Detection of cofilin mRNA by hybridization-sensitive double-stranded fluorescent probes.

We have developed hybridization-sensitive fluorescent oligonucleotide probes that, in the presence of quencher strands, undergo efficient fluorescence quenching through the formation of partial DNA/DNA duplexes. In the presence of target RNA, rapid displacement of the quencher strands results in highly enhanced fluorescence.

Fluorescence properties of 6-aryl-2'-deoxy-furanouridine and -pyrrolocytidine and their derivatives.

2'-deoxyfuranouridine derivatives presenting various aryl groups have been synthesized through Cu(I)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclizations. Moreover, corresponding pyrrolo-dC derivatives have been synthesized and both families of compounds thoroughly characterized using UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The photophysical characterization, show that our newly synthesized derivatives of the important pyrrolo-dC family have high fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) and brightness values. Pyrrolo-dC derivative, 3a, shows an environment sensitive QY of up to >60% and brightness of almost 3000, in low polarity solvents and excitation and emission maxima between 365-381 nm and 479-510 nm, respectively, in solvents of different polarities. Two other derivatives, 3b and 3c, show high QYs and brightness values of up to 3300 that are fairly insensitive to their microenvironment. These promising photophysical features suggest future applicability as fluorescent nucleobase analogs.