Detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with novel leaky surface acoustic wave biosensors, DNA ligation and enzymatic signal amplification

► We have developed a new technique based on a LSAW biosensor, enzymatic DNA ligation and enzymatic signal amplification for the detection of SNPs. ► Routine detection conditions are optimized. ► The detection range is from 10−6mol/L to 10−12mol/L (ΔP=1.853lgC+22.235, r=0.976). ► A single-point mutation at nucleotide A2293G in JEV was successfully detected by this technique. This manuscript describes a new technique for detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by integrating a leaky surface acoustic wave (LSAW) biosensor, enzymatic DNA ligation and enzymatic signal amplification. In this technique, the DNA target is hybridized with a capture probe immobilized on the surface of a LSAW biosensor. Then, the hybridized sequence is ligated to biotinylated allele-specific detection probe using Taq DNA ligase. The ligation does not take place if there is a single-nucleotide mismatch between the target and the capture probe. The ligated detection probe is transformed into a streptavidin–horseradish peroxidase (SA–HRP) terminal group via a biotin–streptavidin complex. Then, the SA–HRP group catalyzes the polymerization of 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) to form a surface precipitate, thus effectively increasing the sensitivity of detecting surface mass changes and allowing detection of SNPs. Optimal detection conditions were found to be: 0.3mol/L sodium ion concentration in PBS, pH 7.6, capture probe concentration 0.5μmol/L and target sequence concentration 1.0μmol/L. The detection limit was found to be 1×10−12mol/L. Using this technique, we were able to detect a single-point mutation at nucleotide A2293G in Japanese encephalitis virus.