ensing of UO₂²⁺ and Design of Logic Gates by the Application of Supramolecular Constructs of Ion-Dependent DNAzymes

M. Moshe, J. Elbaz, and I. Willner

Nano Lett., 9, 1196-1200 (2009).

Supramolecular constructs composed of ion-dependent DNAzymes and their substrates were used to develop DNAzyme cascades that enabled the sensitive detection of UO2²⁺ or the activation of logic gate operations. The supramolecular complex between the UO2^2+-dependent DNAzyme and its substrate leads, in the presence of UO2²⁺, to the cleavage of the substrate and to the release of the HRP-mimicking DNAzyme that enables the optical analysis of UO2²⁺ (detection limit 1 nM). Similarly, supramolecular complexes between the Mg²⁺- and UO2²⁺-dependent DNAzymes and tailored substrates enables the design of the “OR” and “AND” logic gates, using Mg²⁺ and UO2²⁺ as inputs.