Electrochemical detection of gene expression in tumor samples: overexpression of Rak nuclear tyrosine kinase.

Absolute quantification of Rak nuclear tyrosine kinase mRNA in breast tissue samples was determined by competitive RT-PCR. The total RNA from the same samples was also chemically amplified through conventional RT-PCR, and the relative amounts of these amplified RT-PCR products were determined by adsorption onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode followed by electrochemical detection. The electrochemical detection was performed using the inorganic metal complex Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2' bipyridine) to catalyze the oxidation of the guanine residues of the immobilized RT-PCR products. Using the competitive RT-PCR values as standards, it was found that an optimized conventional RT-PCR coupled with electrochemical detection provides a simple method for measuring relative gene expression among a series of mRNA samples from breast tumors. The use of electrochemical detection potentially eliminates the need for gel electrophoresis and fluorescent or radioactive labels in detecting the target genes.