Self-Powered Biosensing Platform Based on “Signal-On” Enzymatic Biofuel Cell for DNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis and Inhibitor Screening

Aberrant DNA methylation catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (MTase) has proved to be associated with human diseases such as cancers. Thus, the development of an efficient strategy to accurately detect DNA MTase is highly desirable in medical diagnostics. Herein, we proposed a robust "signal-on" enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC)-based self-powered biosensing platform with excellent anti-interference ability for DNA MTase activity analysis and inhibitor screening. In the presence of target MTase, the MTase-catalyzed DNA methylation occurred and hindered the HpaII endonuclease-catalyzed dsDNA dissociation, which enabled more bilirubin oxidase (BOD) to immobilize at the cathode surface via amidation. Then, BOD-catalyzed oxygen reduction took place by accepting electrons generated at the anode via glucose oxidation, thus leading to an elevated open-circuit voltage value, the amplitude of which was directly related to MTase concentration. The direct detection limit of the M.SssI assay was down to 0.005 U/mL, which was lower than that of those reported results. Notably, the as-proposed protocol was competent to detect DNA MTase activity directly in human serum samples without enrichment and separation, and applicable to the screening of M.SssI inhibitors. Considering the virtues of the excellent anti-interference ability, no requirement of external power, simplicity, and high accuracy, the biosensing platform would hold great potential in DNA MTase bioassay and clinical diagnosis of cancers.