Enzymatic Incorporation of Biotin into DNA for DNA Hybridization Analysis and for Sensitive Detection of PCR-Amplified DNA

We present two enzymatical electrochemical assays for DNA analysis. For hybridization analysis we used probes with biotin-14-dC introduced to 3' OH end by terminal transferase. For detection of PCR products we used Deep Vent polymerase to incorporate biotin-14-dCduring PCR. In both cases streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate was subsequently attached to the incorporated biotins and was used to catalyze dephosphorylation of 1-naphthyl phosphate to 1-naphthol, the electrochemical signal of which was utilized for detection. Compared to the former method, biotin incorporation during PCR offers lower molar detection limits, whereas application of the biotin-tailed probe can provide us with more selective detection.