MXene Enhanced Photoactivity of Bi2O3/Bi2S3 Heterojunction with G-wire Superstructure for Photoelectrochemical Detection of TET1 Protein

Ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) protein has the potential to accelerate the oxygenation of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC); then the −CH2OH of 5hmC can further covalently react with −SH catalyzed by M.HhaI methyltransferase. A brand-new photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection technique for the TET1 protein was created in light of this. For this objective, the Bi2O3/Bi2S3 heterojunction was first prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method and served for photosensitive materials. For further enhancing the photoactivity, Bi2O3/Bi2S3 was blended with MXene to form an energy band-matched structure, thus improving the migration kinetics of photogenerated carriers. For achieving a high sensitivity of detection, a DNA Walker incorporated with the nicking endonuclease (Nb.BbvCI enzyme)-assisted signal amplification strategy was presented to output exponential G-quadruplex fragments. Self-assembly of the free G-quadruplex sequence into a G-wire superstructure with the assistance of Mg2+ provided more loading sites for MB and amplified the PEC signal. The linear range of the biosensor was 0.1–10 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.024 μg/mL (S/N = 3) for TET1 protein under optimal experimental conditions. The suitability of the proposed method was evaluated by inhibitor screening experiments and the influence of environmental degradation on the activity of TET1 protein.