Development of new methods for the diagnosis of point mutations is a pressing issue. We have developed a new approach to the design of
graphene oxide-based test systems for the diagnosis of point mutations in native
DNA. This new approach is based on the use of
graphene oxide for the adsorption and quenching of fluorescently labeled primers in a post-amplification PCR mixture followed by detection of fluorescently labeled PCR products. It is possible to detect fluorescently labelled amplicons in the presence of an excess of primers in a PCR product
solution due to the different affinities of single-stranded and
double-stranded DNA molecules to
graphene oxide, as well as the ability of
graphene oxide to act as a quencher of the fluorophores adsorbed on its surface. The new approach was tested by designing a
graphene oxide-based test system for the
DNA diagnosis of the point mutation associated with the development of the
3M syndrome in Yakuts. The developed approach enables one to design
graphene oxide-based test systems suitable for the diagnosis of any point mutations in native
DNA.