Hybridization Indicators, Intercalators and Groove Binders

Various molecules are capable to bind to the DNA duplex or to single-stranded DNA. The application of DNA binding molecules for the detection of base-pair mismatches is discussed below. For instance, Millan et al. demonstrated sequence-selective electrochemical DNA sensing using hybridization indicators [9]. In this detection scheme, DNA capture strands were covalently immobilized on a glassy carbon 14 electrode and [Co(bpy)3] + and [Co(phen)3] + served as hybridization indicators that display reversible redox behavior. Presumably, electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged 

The use of [Cu(dmp)(H20)]Cl2 (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-l,10-phenanthroline) as a new electrochemical hybridization indicator was recently demonstrated by Li and coworkers [51], [Cu(dmp)(H20)]Cl2 can intercalate into the base stack of ds-DNA and has found applications for the detection of a Hepatitis B sensor based on a synthetic 21-mer ODN sequence. 

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