Kığ C., Pekmez M., Bastemur G., Yucel O., Perçin Özkorucuklu S.
Open Life Sciences, cilt.20, sa.1, ss.1-12, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
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Yayın Türü:
Makale / Tam Makale
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Cilt numarası:
20
Sayı:
1
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Basım Tarihi:
2025
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Doi Numarası:
10.1515/biol-2025-1240
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Dergi Adı:
Open Life Sciences
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Sayfa Sayıları:
ss.1-12
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İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli:
Evet
Özet
Abstract
Sialic acids (SAs) are terminal monosaccharides on cell surfaces, mediating diverse signaling events through recognition by carbohydrate-binding proteins, lectins. Lectins recognize glycans and regulate molecular interactions. Altered lectin–SA interactions are associated with diseases, highlighting the need for accessible analytical tools to study these interactions. We explored the use of SA–conjugated quantum dots (SA-QDs) as direct fluorescent probes for lectin detection in an ELISA-based format. SA-QDs were synthesized via EDC-mediated conjugation of Neu5Acα(2–6)Galβ(1–4)GlcNAc-β-ethylamine to carboxylated QDs. Ethanolamine-capped QDs (EC-QDs) served as negative control probes. Characterization by FTIR confirmed amide bond formation; zeta potential measurements showed an increased negative charge upon functionalization (QDs: −23.1 mV; SA-QDs: −34.0 mV), and SEM revealed an increase in particle size. In a 96-well assay, SA-QDs exhibited higher fluorescence retention on α(2–6)-specific lectins (Siglec-2 and SNA) compared to negative control BSA, non-lectin glycolipid control fetuin and a low-specificity control, Siglec-1. EC-QDs showed no specific retention, validating assay specificity. Furthermore, fluorescence data correlated between imaging and spectrofluorometric analyses (r
2
= 0.94). This proof-of-concept study, for the first time, demonstrates the potential of SA-QDs as novel lectin-recognition probes capable of distinguishing specific from non-specific sugar–lectin interactions, though the current system requires further optimization to achieve quantitative sensitivity.