Design of fluorescent probes for siRNAs and their application to intracellular siRNA analysis

我们设计了荧光探针，用于选择性识别能够抑制细胞中基因表达的siRNA的突出端核碱基。我们的探针由肽核酸、芘和噻唑橙子组成。发现探针在选择性结合siRNA的突出端核碱基时表现出点亮荧光响应。探针的这种荧光感测能力适用于通过转染的siRNA递送的不同分析。因此，这种荧光探针有望成为一种有效的、多功能的工具，用于分析细胞内siRNA的行为，而不需要对荧光团的修饰和标记进行回复。

We designed fluorescent probes for selective recognition of overhang nucleobases of siRNAs capable of inhibiting gene expression in cells. Our probes consist of peptide nucleic acid, pyrene and thiazole orange. The probes were found to exhibit the light-up fluorescence response upon selective binding to overhang nucleobases of siRNAs. Such a fluorescence sensing ability of the probe was applicable to distinct analysis of siRNA delivery through transfection. Then, this kind of fluorescence probe is expected to function as effective and versatile tools for the analysis of behaviors of intracellular siRNAs without replying on fluorophore modifications and labelling.