Methods for detecting DNA-binding proteins

A method for detecting binding of a DNA-binding protein to a consensus target recognition sequence in the presence of a competitor target recognition sequence, the method comprising:

• incubating the DNA-binding protein with a molar excess of a free double-stranded DNA molecule that comprises the competitor target recognition sequence that differs from the consensus target recognition sequence, to form a pre-incubated DNA-binding protein;
• mixing in a reaction buffer a first set of metal nanoparticles, a second set of metal nanoparticles and the pre-incubated DNA-binding protein to form a test mixture,
• said first set of metal nanoparticles having a first double-stranded DNA molecule conjugated thereto, said first double-stranded DNA molecule having a first single-stranded overhang at one end,
• said second set of metal nanoparticles having a second double-stranded DNA molecule conjugated thereto, said second double-stranded DNA molecule having a second single-stranded overhang at one end, said second single-stranded overhang being complementary to said first single-stranded overhang such that annealing of said first and said second single-stranded overhang results in formation of the consensus target recognition sequence that specifically binds the DNA-binding protein,
• thereby annealing said first single-stranded overhang with said second single-stranded overhang,
• said reaction buffer comprising an ionic species in a concentration sufficient to result in aggregation of the metal nanoparticles upon annealing of the first and second single-stranded overhang;
• detecting the aggregation state of the test mixture of metal nanoparticles;
• and
• comparing the aggregation state of the test mixture with the aggregation state of a first control mixture of metal nanoparticles and the aggregation state of a second control mixture of metal nanoparticles, wherein the first control mixture is formed by mixing in the reaction buffer the first set of metal nanoparticles, the second set of metal nanoparticles and the DNA-binding protein that has not been incubated with the free double-stranded DNA molecule, and the second control mixture is formed by mixing in the reaction buffer the first set of metal nanoparticles, the second set of metal nanoparticles and the DNA-binding protein that has been incubated with a free double-stranded DNA molecule that is known not to specifically bind the DNA-binding protein, whereby a difference in aggregation state between the first control mixture and the test mixture that is greater than a difference in aggregation state between the first control mixture and the second control mixture is indicative of specific binding of the DNA-binding protein to the competitor target recognition sequence.