The fluorescence-based real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is widely used for the quantification of steady-state mRNA levels and is a critical tool for basic research, molecular medicine and biotechnology. Assays are easy to perform, capable of high throughput, and can combine high sensitivity with reliable specificity. The technology is evolving rapidly with the introduction of new enzymes, chemistries and instrumentation. However, while real-time RT-PCR addresses many of the difficulties inherent in conventional RT-PCR, it has become increasingly clear that it engenders new problems that require urgent attention. Therefore, in addition to providing a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in real-time RT-PCR, this review has an additional aim: it will describe and discuss critically some of the problems associated with interpreting results that are numerical and lend themselves to statistical analysis, yet whose accuracy is significantly affected by reagent and operator variability.

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Quantification of mRNA using real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR): trends and problems.

III. Foldamer Research 3910 A. Overview 3910 B. Motivation 3910 C. Methods 3910 D. General Scope 3912 IV. Peptidomimetic Foldamers 3912 A. The R-Peptide Family 3913 1. Peptoids 3913 2. N,N-Linked Oligoureas 3914 3. Oligopyrrolinones 3915 4. Oxazolidin-2-ones 3916 5. Azatides and Azapeptides 3916 B. The â-Peptide Family 3917 1. â-Peptide Foldamers 3917 2. R-Aminoxy Acids 3937 3. Sulfur-Containing â-Peptide Analogues 3937 4. Hydrazino Peptides 3938 C. The γ-Peptide Family 3938 1. γ-Peptide Foldamers 3938 2. Other Members of the γ-Peptide Family 3941 D. The δ-Peptide Family 3941 1. Alkene-Based δ-Amino Acids 3941 2. Carbopeptoids 3941 V. Single-Stranded Abiotic Foldamers 3944 A. Overview 3944 B. Backbones Utilizing Bipyridine Segments 3944 1. Pyridine−Pyrimidines 3944 2. Pyridine−Pyrimidines with Hydrazal Linkers 3945

A field guide to foldamers.

The long wavelength (far-red to NIR) analyte-responsive fluorescent probes are advantageous for in vivo bioimaging because of minimum photo-damage to biological samples, deep tissue penetration, and minimum interference from background auto-fluorescence by biomolecules in the living systems. Thus, great interest in the development of new long wavelength analyte-responsive fluorescent probes has emerged in recent years. This review highlights the advances in the development of far-red to NIR fluorescent probes since 2000, and the probes are classified according to their organic dye platforms into various categories, including cyanines, rhodamine analogues, BODIPYs, squaraines, and other types (240 references).

Far-red to near infrared analyte-responsive fluorescent probes based on organic fluorophore platforms for fluorescence imaging

Design strategies for water-soluble small molecular chromogenic and fluorogenic probes.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes have emerged as promising modalities for monitoring the levels of various biologically relevant species in cells and organisms. The use of NIR probes enables deep photon penetration in tissue, minimizes photo-damage to biological samples, and produces low background auto-fluorescence from biomolecules present in living systems. The number of new analyte-responsive NIR fluorescent probes has increased substantially in recent years as a consequence of intense research efforts. In this tutorial review, we highlight recent advances (2010–2013) made in the development and applications of NIR fluorescent probes. The review focuses on NIR fluorescent probes that have been devised to sense various biologically important species, including ROS/RNS, metal ions, anions, enzymes and other related species, as well as intracellular pH changes. The basic principles involved in the design of functional NIR fluorescent probes and suggestions about how to expand applications of NIR imaging agents are also described.

Recent progress in the development of near-infrared fluorescent probes for bioimaging applications

Understanding photocatalytic coupled-dye degradation, and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction over WO3/MoO3 hybrid nanostructures

Complexes of dipyridylamine based ligand with an anthracene moiety containing divalent metal ions Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) were characterized structurally. The experimental results showed that they can induce considerable oxidative DNA cleavage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen. The Zn(II) complex did not show any appreciable cleavage activity, whereas the Cd(II) and Ni(II) complexes were moderately active. On the other hand, Cu(II) and Co(II) complex showed the formation of a significant quantity of linear DNA resulting from the double-strand breaks. Mechanistic studies revealed the involvement of HO˙ and the superoxide anion to be the reactive species in the scission process in aerobic media. A mechanism involving either the Fenton or the Haber–Weiss reaction was proposed for the DNA cleavage mediated by these complexes. The Cu(II) complex could also cleave the double stranded calf thymus DNA (ds DNA) in the presence of activators, most likely via an oxidative mechanism, whereas the activity of the other complexes was negligible under similar reaction conditions. The kinetic aspects of ds DNA cleavage with the Cu(II) are detailed. The interaction of the five metal complexes with ds DNA was investigated by UV absorption and linear dichroism studies, and the mode of complexes binding to ds DNA is proposed.

Synthesis, DNA binding profile and DNA cleavage pathway of divalent metal complexes

The binding modes of cationic porphyrins, namely M-meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (MTMPyP, where M = free base, Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(III), Mn(III), V(IV)═O, and Ti(IV)═O), to native ...

Effect of axial ligand on the binding mode of M-meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin to DNA probed by circular and linear dichroism spectroscopies.

Seog K. Kim

Papers

Understanding photocatalytic coupled-dye degradation, and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction over WO3/MoO3 hybrid nanostructures

Synthesis, DNA binding profile and DNA cleavage pathway of divalent metal complexes

Effect of axial ligand on the binding mode of M-meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin to DNA probed by circular and linear dichroism spectroscopies.

DNA-binding geometry dependent energy transfer from 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole to cationic porphyrins.

Non-intercalative binding mode of bridged binuclear chiral Ru(II) complexes to native duplex DNA.