Aptamer-Based Colorimetric Probe for trans-Zeatin Detection Using Unmodified Gold Nanoparticle

Abstract EN

Trans-Zeatin is the major active phytohormone in immature corn kernels.

Herein, a highly sensitive, good selective and simple aptamer-based colorimetric method for the detection of trans-zeatin was constructed.

The selected aptamer sequence binds with trans-zeatin and induces a duplex-to-aptamer structure switching.

The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) solution is stable with high-concentration salt, which is protected by red complementary DNA.

In the absence of trans-zeatin, the color of AuNPs changed from red to blue because aptamer DNA and complementary DNA form double-stranded DNA.

Thus, the ratio of absorbance intensities (A522/A650) of AuNPs is changed with the concentration of trans-zeatin.

The color change could be observed by the naked eye.

The linear range of this method covers a large variation of trans-zeatin concentration from 0.05 to 0.75 μM.

The detection limit is 0.037 μM.

Moreover, this method was applied successfully to detect trans-zeatin in real plant samples.