A gold-nanoparticle-based real-time colorimetric screening method for endonuclease activity and inhibition

Abstract

(Figure Presented) On the small screen: Aggregates of gold nanopartides interconnected by DNA duplexes (see scheme, left) are bluish-purple. Cleavage of the duplexes by deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) releases the nanoparticles (right), producing a bluish-purple-to-red color change. This color change can be used to monitor the activity (and inhibition) of the enzyme. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.