{"title":"Systematic Identification and Recognition Analysis of Beta1-Adrenergic Receptor Targeting Material Basis in Tibetan Medicine Formula Bawei Chenxiang Powder","authors":"Lixiang Chen, Yunzhi He, Junni Fan, Liangxi Li, Shasha Zhang, Mengze Wu, Yuxin Xie, Xinyi Yuan, Qian Li, Xu Ji","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70022","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70022","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Bawei Chenxiang Powder (BWCP) is a Tibetan medicine formulation used to treat cardiovascular diseases, has demonstrated clinical efficacy though its material basis remains unclear. In clinical trial, β<sub>1</sub>-adrenergic receptor (β<sub>1</sub>-AR) has been recognized as a key therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease treatment. So, in this work, we engineered a fusion protein by linking the kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to the C-terminus of β<sub>1</sub>-AR, which was subsequently immobilized onto the ibrutinib-modified silica gels. Following column preparation by packing the β<sub>1</sub>-AR immobilized silica into a stainless-steel column, the specificity and stability of β<sub>1</sub>-AR column were evaluated through the retention behavior analysis of atenolol, esmolol, and metoprolol for characterization. Then, using the β<sub>1</sub>-AR column combined with MS/MS, eight BWCP constituents targeting β<sub>1</sub>-AR were screened and identified: 6-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone, taxifolin, myristicin, costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), and catechin. The association constants of above screened compounds with immobilized β<sub>1</sub>-AR were (6.75 ± 0.05) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (13.2 ± 0.60) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (3.82 ± 0.18) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (145.13 ± 1.50) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (199.77 ± 0.30) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (13.8 ± 0.04) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (9.30 ± 0.14) × 10<sup>4</sup>, (31.4 ± 0.76) × 10<sup>4</sup> M<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Molecular docking results indicated that the compound-β<sub>1</sub>-AR complexes stabilization primarily involves hydrogen bonding, van der Waals interactions, Pi-alkyl, and Pi-Pi stacking. A survey of DrugBank showed that catechin have well defined effects against cardiovascular diseases. DHBA and taxifolin are potential drug leads under experimental. These confirmed the reliability of the screened compounds by the immobilized β<sub>1</sub>-AR. To our knowledge, this work establishes the first systematic identification of BWCP's bioactive components targeting β<sub>1</sub>-AR, providing a pharmacological foundation for developing novel cardiovascular therapeutics derived from this traditional formulation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146030062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elena Álvarez-Sánchez, Bernard Offmann, Simon Huet, Stéphane Téletchéa
{"title":"Energetics Decomposition of Sac7d:DNA Decrypts Amino Acids Role Without DNA Sequence Selectivity","authors":"Elena Álvarez-Sánchez, Bernard Offmann, Simon Huet, Stéphane Téletchéa","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sac7d is a 7 kDa protein belonging to the class of the small chromosomal proteins from archeon <i>Sulfolobus acidocaldarius</i>. Sac7d was discovered in 1974 in Yellowstone National Parks geysers, and studied extensively since then for its remarkable stability at large pH and temperature ranges. Sac7d binds to the DNA minor groove, thereby protecting the host genome from extreme conditions by increasing the DNA melting temperature. In this study, we analyzed the Sac7d–DNA complex using 1 μs molecular dynamics simulations. The interaction energy of the interface was decomposed using Molecular Mechanics with Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) to determine the residues that contributed most significantly to DNA binding. Out of 12 amino acids considered essential for DNA binding, three were newly identified in this study and had not been previously reported. One of these new amino acids, R63, may be involved in a dynamic protein–DNA interaction. The simulations performed also revealed a sliding motion of Sac7d over double-stranded DNA, suggesting a minimal sequence dependence interaction. Our analysis thus provides novel insights into how the Sac7d chaperones allow to protect DNA from degradation in extreme conditions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145762985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of the Interaction Between HSA and Dioscorea pentaphylla Leaf Extract-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles Using Multi-Spectroscopic and Calorimetric Techniques and Evaluation of Their Anti-Biofilm Activity","authors":"Basudev Shit, Samaresh Paria, Somenath Kundu, Subhajit Barman, Aziza Nasrin, Tuhin Manna, Chandradipa Ghosh, Maidul Hossain","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to develop a simple, rapid and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) employing the aqueous leaf extract of the medicinal plant <i>Dioscorea pentaphylla</i> as a natural and cost-effective reducing and stabilising agent. The synthesised Dp-SNPs were comprehensively characterised using UV–visible, FTIR, HR-TEM, AFM, DLS and XPS techniques. Their in vitro anti-biofilm activity was evaluated against both gram-negative <i>V. cholerae</i> and gram-positive <i>S. aureus</i>, demonstrating potent inhibitory effects against both bacterial strains. To elucidate the interaction between Dp-SNPs and human serum albumin (HSA), multi-spectroscopic techniques were employed. UV–visible and fluorescence analysis revealed a strong binding affinity of Dp-SNPs towards HSA. ITC experiment confirmed that the complexation process was spontaneous and primarily driven by hydrophobic forces. Fluorescence lifetime measurements indicated a static quenching mechanism, and CD spectroscopy suggested minimal alteration in the secondary structure of HSA upon conjugation with Dp-SNPs. Furthermore, an increase in the Zeta potential of Dp-SNPs after binding with HSA suggested improved colloidal stability of the protein–nanoparticle complex. These findings highlight the potential of Dp-SNPs as eco-friendly anti-biofilm agents and provide important insights into their interactions with serum proteins for biomedical applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ashis Kumar Biswas, Rajan Koirala, Sharmistha Roy, Trung Nguyen, Barbara A. Lyons
{"title":"Uncovering the Structural Logic of Grb7: From Domain Mutagenesis to Therapeutic Implications in Cancer Signaling","authors":"Ashis Kumar Biswas, Rajan Koirala, Sharmistha Roy, Trung Nguyen, Barbara A. Lyons","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70019","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70019","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Grb7 is a member of the Grb7 protein family, which also includes Grb10 and Grb14. These adaptor proteins function mainly as scaffolds in phosphorylation-dependent signaling pathways. The family is known to interact with receptor tyrosine kinases and other signaling molecules, and their activity is influenced by protein–protein interactions within their conserved five-domain structure. Grb7 has also been linked to cancer progression and is thought to form dimers and undergo intramolecular interactions that may regulate its signaling functions. In this study, we focused on understanding how the SH2 domain of Grb7 interacts with its RA-PH (RAPH) region, which may partially regulate its overall structure and activity. We introduced five single-site mutations (V45A, R46A, R46K, E47D, S48A) into the SH2 domain and studied their effects using biochemical, biophysical, and computational methods. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed that all mutants maintained the overall fold of the SH2 domain. However, the introduction of mutations enhanced the thermal instability of SH2 from 59°C to a range of 56°C–47°C. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis revealed that mutations at R46 resulted in approximately 1.5–6 times weaker binding to the RAPH region. AlphaFold and ClusPro models and matrices scores supported the biophysical experimental findings. Docking and size exclusion experiments confirmed the RA and PH domains form a stable unit. Truncating the distorted poly-proline region of Grb7 improved its model quality. Collectively, the results provide additional insight into the regulatory mechanisms of Grb7 and may aid in the development of Grb7-signaling dependent cancer therapeutics.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Érika Geicianny de Carvalho Matias, Katyanna Sales Bezerra, Washington Sales Clemente Junior, Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira, Douglas Soares Galvão, Umberto Laino Fulco
{"title":"Therapeutic Perspectives of SIRT6 Regulation: Computational Analysis of Activation and Inhibition by Bioactive Molecules","authors":"Érika Geicianny de Carvalho Matias, Katyanna Sales Bezerra, Washington Sales Clemente Junior, Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira, Douglas Soares Galvão, Umberto Laino Fulco","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70016","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is an enzyme belonging to the class of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) dependent histone deacetylases. It has been of interest due to its multivariate biological role and association with aging-related diseases and metabolic dysfunctions. SIRT6 activation protects against metabolic diseases and aging, and its inhibition is considered a therapy against cancer and inflammation. Here, we explore the modulation of SIRT6 by bioactive molecules, providing a detailed view of the molecular interactions that lead to the activation or inhibition of this protein. Therefore, we investigated the interactions between the ligands quercetin (QUE), isoquercetin (ISO), catechin gallate (CG), and trichostatin A (TSA) with SIRT6, using computational methods from the perspective of molecular modeling through the Molecular Fractionation with Caps Conjugates (MFCC) technique and according to the calculation parameters of Density Functional Theory (DFT). The results revealed the energetic values of each amino acid residue constituting the interaction pocket with the analyzed ligands within a radius of up to 10.0 Å. The analysis of the interaction energies showed an order of priority among the ligands, highlighting CG as the most promising. The observation of the interactions between amino acid residues and ligands identified significant contributions from residues VAL70, PHE64, PHE82, and PHE86. In addition, residues such as PRO62, MET136, MET157, and VAL115 stand out as key components of the protein active site. These findings offer strategic insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the binding of the studied ligands to SIRT6, providing a deep understanding of their affinity and pharmacological potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12686607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145708511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multispectral and Molecular Dynamics Study on the Interactions Between α-Amylase and Four Sesquiterpene Lactone Compounds","authors":"Xiaoyan Ma, Qianghui Mian, Chengyu Shi, Tuxia Pang, Chunzi Zhang, Shuwen Qi, Wenhui Hou, Xiaoli Ma","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70017","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study compared the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of four sesquiterpene lactones derived from Asteraceae plants on α-amylase using enzymatic kinetics, multi-spectral techniques, and molecular docking methods. It was found that compounds A, B, and C inhibited α-amylase activity through a competitive mechanism, while compound D exhibited non-competitive inhibition, with compound B showing the strongest inhibitory activity. Further analysis revealed that the four sesquiterpene lactone compounds interacted with key amino acid residues of α-amylase via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, forming stable protein–ligand complexes. Among them, compound B demonstrated the lowest binding energy, indicating the strongest binding affinity to α-amylase. By investigating the inhibitory effects of these sesquiterpene lactones with a common parent structure on α-amylase, the inhibitory mechanisms and potential pharmacophoric groups were elucidated, providing a scientific foundation for the development of antidiabetic functional foods and drugs based on sesquiterpene lactone scaffolds.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Harsha Verma, Payal Gulati, Tabarak Malik, Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Anupam Teotia, Archana, G. B. V. S. Lakshmi, Mohd Tariq, Jyoti Jaiswal, Manish Kushwaha, Pratima R. Solanki, Rajeev Singh, Anil Kumar
{"title":"Investigation of Intermolecular Interaction Between 4-Ethyl Phenyl Sulfate and Human Serum Albumin Using Spectroscopic Techniques and Molecular Docking Studies","authors":"Harsha Verma, Payal Gulati, Tabarak Malik, Awadhesh Kumar Verma, Anupam Teotia, Archana, G. B. V. S. Lakshmi, Mohd Tariq, Jyoti Jaiswal, Manish Kushwaha, Pratima R. Solanki, Rajeev Singh, Anil Kumar","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>4-Ethyl phenyl sulfate (4-EPS), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite, is identified in ailments like chronic kidney disease (CKD) and numerous neurodegenerative conditions like autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study is a novel attempt to comprehend the interaction of 4-ethyl phenyl sulfate (4-EPS) with human serum albumin (HSA). This interaction was examined using spectroscopic techniques like circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular docking studies. The conformation investigation through FTIR and CD confirmed the alteration in the secondary structure of HSA due to the binding of 4-EPS. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed the formation of a complex between HSA and 4-EPS upon interaction via static quenching. The spontaneity of the binding process was indicated by the negative ΔG value. Absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that in the presence of 4-EPS (2–48 μM), the absorbance of HSA progressively declined as a result of the formation of the 4-EPS–HSA complex. Contact angle measurements showed the involvement of hydrophobic interactions between HSA and 4-EPS. Molecular modeling was performed, followed by optimization using the DFT approach. Molecular docking study revealed moderate binding between the metabolite and HSA. It was further confirmed that hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds were the main forces responsible for stabilizing the 4-EPS–HSA complex.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"38 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Naqib Ahmad, Nida Ambreen, Muhammad Ayaz, Zainab, Aftab Alam, Imtiaz Ahmad, Ahmed A. Elhenawy, Imen Zghab, Syed Adnan Ali Shah, Manzoor Ahmad
{"title":"Synthesis, In Vitro Cholinesterase Inhibition, Molecular Docking, Density Functional Theory Analysis of Benzimidazole Based Hydrazone Schiff Bases","authors":"Naqib Ahmad, Nida Ambreen, Muhammad Ayaz, Zainab, Aftab Alam, Imtiaz Ahmad, Ahmed A. Elhenawy, Imen Zghab, Syed Adnan Ali Shah, Manzoor Ahmad","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70012","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) are the main therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, predominantly Alzheimer's disease. This work reports the synthesis, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities of synthesized hydrazone Schiff base derivatives of benzimidazole. The compounds have been structurally deduced by means of HR-ESI-MS, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR and <sup>13</sup>C-NMR techniques and finally assessed for their in vitro AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities. All the compounds attributed notable inhibitory potential with IC<sub>50</sub> values ranging from 34.7 ± 0.02 to 185.2 ± 2.47 μM for AChE and 40.8 ± 0.32 to 188.8 ± 2.47 μM for BuChE enzymes. The molecular docking and TD-DFT studies attributed that the compound with methoxy groups, specifically compound (<b>7</b>) displays increased electronic properties and strong dual binding to AChE and BuChE enzymes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the most active compound (<b>7</b>) were performed, which showed that compound (<b>7</b>) exploits the integral flexibility of AChE and BuChE to encourage conformational variations that lock both enzymes into a two-site inhibitory state. These compounds presented orbitals and favorable electrostatic profiles that improve the inhibitory potential. The results authenticate the SAR trends and highlight the significance of methoxy groups in planning potent cholinesterase inhibitors.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"38 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145541156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Suvetha Rani, U. Reeta Felscia, S. W. Noah Eastman, D. Yamini
{"title":"Adsorption and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Ascorbic Acid on Silver Clusters: Experimental and DFT Study","authors":"J. Suvetha Rani, U. Reeta Felscia, S. W. Noah Eastman, D. Yamini","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70014","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmr.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The interaction between ascorbic acid (AA) and a silver nanocluster (Ag<sub>3</sub>) is investigated through a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3PW91/6-311++G(d,p) and LanL2DZ levels revealed that adsorption of AA on Ag<sub>3</sub> induces structural reorganization accompanied by charge transfer from Ag<sub>3</sub> to AA. The charge transfer is confirmed by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural population analysis (NPA), Fukui function analysis, and natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations. The reduced band gap of AA–Ag<sub>3</sub> indicates the interaction between AA and Ag<sub>3</sub>. Experimental UV–Vis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and Fourier-transform Raman (FTR) spectra supported the computational findings, revealing changes in electronic and vibrational modes upon adsorption. The first hyperpolarizability (β) of AA–Ag<sub>3</sub> is calculated to be 21 times higher than that of pristine AA. Open-aperture Z-scan measurements validated the predicted nonlinear optical (NLO) response, demonstrating the potential of the AA–Ag<sub>3</sub> molecular system for advanced NLO device applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"38 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145549753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developing a Modular Platform for the Detection of microRNAs Using Rolling Circle Amplification and Multi-Primed Chain Amplification","authors":"Mahboobeh Nasiri, Kyle Nowlin, Reza Zadegan","doi":"10.1002/jmr.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in diverse biological processes and are key biomarkers in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer. However, their inherently low concentrations in biological samples pose a major challenge for reliable detection and quantification. To overcome this limitation, we developed a fluorescence-based biosensing platform that integrates rolling circle amplification (RCA) and multi-primed chain amplification (MCA) to enhance signal and detection sensitivity. The system is engineered to allow flexible reconfiguration for different miRNA targets by altering probe and primer sequences. In this modular system, miR-i, a miRNA commonly expressed in healthy and cancerous samples, serves as a universal initiator for RCA. Signal amplification was subsequently driven by hybridization with two randomly selected miRNAs (miR-A and miR-D), enabling evaluation of system performance under varied input conditions. Fluorescence emission was measured following the addition of a molecular beacon and subsequent spectrofluorometric analysis. The biosensor exhibited a strong linear correlation between miRNA concentration and fluorescence intensity, achieving a limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) below 10 pM in both buffer and human serum. These findings demonstrate the platform's high sensitivity and robustness. Importantly, modular architecture allows for easy reconfiguration to detect a wide array of miRNAs or other non-coding RNAs, positioning this platform as a broadly applicable tool for molecular diagnostics beyond any specific disease context.</p>","PeriodicalId":16531,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Recognition","volume":"38 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jmr.70013","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}