Template:Heidelberg/project/rd/abstract

Abstract

Detection of short nucleic acids is mainly done using a radioactive labeling strategy because of the high sensitivity it offers. We wished to bypass the risks that are connected to working with radioactivity, therefore we aimed to establish two alternative readouts with suitable sensitivity. The first method we worked on is based on click chemistry and has been previously proposed. The second method, based on the HRP-mimicking DNAzyme, is novel and was established by us. Both methods bear the potential of sensitive and specific readout and could be used in many applications.