Low-background electrochemical biosensor for one-step detection of base excision repair enzyme

Abstract We develop a low-background electrochemical biosensor for one-step detection of uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) based on the host-guest interaction and iron-embedded nitrogen-rich carbon nanotube (Fe–N–C) that mimics enzyme-mediated electrocatalysis to achieve signal amplification. In this work, Fe–N–C is initially immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode, followed by the immobilization of β–cyclodextrin (β–CD). We construct the signal probes by assembling the methylene blue (MB)-labeled hairpin DNAs onto the surface of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form the MB-hairpin/AuNP probes. Due to the steric effect of AuNPs and the stem–loop structure of hairpin DNA, MB is prevented from entering the cavity of β-CD on the electrode. In contrast, UDG enables the removal of uracil from the U•A pairs in the stem of hairpin DNA probe to generate apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, leading to the assembly of MB-hairpin/AuNP probes on the electrode based on host–guest reaction between β-CD and MB. Meanwhile, L-cysteine (RSH) is oxidized by O2 to disulfide L-cystine (RSSR) and H2O2. In the presence of H2O2, Fe–N–C catalyzes the oxidation of MB to generate an amplified electrochemical signal. Notably, the Fe–N–C-catalyzed oxidation of MB is mediated by the oxidation of RSH by O2 instead of external H2O2, greatly simplifying the experimental procedures and improving the electrochemical signal. Due to the introduction of host–guest recognition, this electrochemical biosensor displays a low-background signal and high signal-to-noise ratio, enabling the one-step sensitive measurement of UDG with a detection limit of 7.4 × 10−5 U mL−1. Moreover, this biosensor can measure UDG in crude cell extracts and screen the inhibitors, providing a new platform for biomedical research.