A study conducted by researchers at Kanazawa University (Japan) reports on a molecule known as pillar[6]arene (P6A) that can form a host–guest compound with a cancer-associated metabolite, which can be used to detect the metabolite in crude biological samples.
The team of researchers from Kanazawa University have developed a biosensor relying on the physiochemical properties of P6A for a low-molecular-weight metabolite known as one-Methylnicotinamide (1-MNA). Recently, this metabolite was discovered to present in higher levels in aggressive cancer cell lines. Metabolites also play a role in metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions that occur simultaneously including diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Detection of specific metabolites is important in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Detection of relatively large-molecular-weight proteins can be achieved using various specific antibodies. By contrast, low-molecular-weight metabolites such as 1-MNA are harder to detect and quantify. Techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry are the most commonly used, however, these are expensive and cannot be used for high-throughput analysis.
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The researchers found that P6A formed host–guest complexes with 1-MNA, eliciting a decrease in fluorescent response from P6A. This response can be used as a biosensor indicator to detect the presence or absence of 1-MNA. While the current mechanism for detection operates with a low sensitivity the team of researchers indicated their interest in continuing additional experiments.
In this study, the authors concluded:
"Further experiments will help to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the biosensors, and ultimately, this work should contribute to the development of low-cost, easy and rapid methods for the detection of human metabolites for diagnosis."
Sources: Ueno M, Tomita T, Arakawa H, et.al. Pillar[6]arene acts as a biosensor for quantitative detection of a vitamin metabolite in crude biological samples. Commun. Chem. 183(3), 1–10 (2020); https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/achievements/achievements-14276/
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