Ultrasensitive endonuclease activity and inhibition detection using gold nanoparticle-enhanced fluorescence polarization.

We have developed a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence polarization assay method based on the specificity of the DNA cleavage reaction with the enhancement of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for assaying endonuclease activity and inhibition. This assay can detect EcoRI endonuclease down to 5.0×10(-4) U mL(-1) with a detection range from 5.0×10(-4) to 10 U mL(-1). © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011