Abnormal DNA methyltransferase activity has been implicated in cancerous transformations and tumorigenesis; efficient detection of methyltransferase activity could provide an early cancer diagnostic.  Currently, most detection platforms involve fluorescence or radioactivity, making them cumbersome.  Electrochemical platforms, in contrast, offer high portability, sensitivity, and ease of use. We have developed an electrochemical DNA array platform that is formed and addressed using a secondary electrode, allowing for both formation of dilute DNA monolayers and optimized detection through DNA-mediated charge transport with electrocatalysis.  This label-free electrochemical platform has been used to successfully detect the activity of the most abundant human methyltransferase, DNMT1, in crude lysates from both cultured human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116) and colorectal tissue samples.  We additionally distinguish colorectal carcinoma tissue from healthy adjacent tissue through differences in DNMT1 activity, demonstrating the utility of this two-electrode platform for clinical applications.<br/><br/>

Label-free electrochemical detection of human methyltransferase from tumors

249th National Meeting (2015)

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