Abstracts

We report here the concept and operation of a self-powered, target-triggered DNA motor constructed by engineering a DNAzyme to adapt into binding-induced DNA assembly. Binding of a target molecule to the two ligands induced hybridization between the DNAzyme and its substrate on the AuNP that are otherwise unable to spontaneously hybridize. The binding-induced association of the DNAzyme with the substrate on the AuNP activated the DNAzyme, initiating the cleavage of the substrate and the autonomous movement of the DNAzyme along the tracks on the AuNP. A simple addition or depletion of the cofactor Mg²⁺ enabled fine control of the DNAzyme motor. A single binding event resulted in the movement of the motor by more than one hundred steps. The binding-induced association of the DNAzyme with the substrate on the AuNP activated the DNAzyme, initiating the cleavage of the substrate and the autonomous movement of the DNAzyme along the tracks on the AuNP. A simple addition or depletion of the cofactor Mg²⁺ enabled fine control of the DNAzyme motor. A single binding event resulted in the movement of the motor by more than one hundred steps. Simply altering the ligands enabled the motor to specifically respond to any target proteins, DNA or MiroRNA.