Detection of Cell Carcinogenic Transformation by a Quadruplex DNA Binding Fluorescent Probe

Abstract

Cancer can be easily treated when found early. A probe capable of detecting cell transformation may increase the success rate of early diagnosis of cancer. In this report we have tested the ability of a fluorescent, quadruplex DNA binding probe, 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4- vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC), to detect cell transformation in vitro. BMVC was applied to living cells in several different models of cell transformation, and the fluorescence signals of BMVC were measured. The degrees of cell transformation in these models were characterized by alterations in cellular morphological phenotype and subcellular organization. When BMVC probes were applied, the number of BMVC-positive cells increased in accordance with the degree of transformation. BMVC was capable of significantly detecting formation of foci, increased cellular motility, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, anchorage-independent growth, and increased invasiveness of transformed cells. These results demonstrate the ability of BMVC probes to detect cell transformation and indicate that BMVC is of promise for use as a probe in early cancer detection.

Biological potential of carbazole derivatives

“…Early diagnosis of cancer greatly increases the patient's chances of recovery. BMVC was tested in vitro as a probe capable of detecting cell transformation, which may increase such a success [70]. BMVC has been applied to living cells in several different models of cell transformation, and the fluorescence signals of BMVC detecting formation of foci, significantly increased cellular motility, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, anchorage-independent growth, and increased invasiveness of transformed cells.…”

Effect of Interior Loop Length on the Thermal Stability and pKa of i-Motif DNA

“…In 2013, Balasubramanian et al, 8 published one of the first papers that confirmed G4s exist in vivo , which has been further supported by several additional reports on G4s in vivo in both DNA and RNA. 9-13 No similar studies for iMs have been performed, so their existence in vivo is still yet to be determined. Unlike G4s, iMs have not yet been considered widely as stable in vivo since the pH in the nucleus is believed to be not much different than cytosolic pH (~7.3) 14, 15 while the pK a of a typical iM is < 7.0.…”

Cyanidin Chloride Induces Apoptosis by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling through Activation of Nrf2 in Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…Considering that the formation of foci in cancer cells in an important feature of carcinogenesis [27], we implemented the clonogenic assay to determine the capacity of CyCl in tumor colony formation. Three colon cancer cells were seeded at very low densities and their capacity to develop colonies was monitored for a period of 2 weeks.…”