Sensing of UO22+ and design of logic gates by the application of supramolecular constructs of ion-dependent DNAzymes.

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 UO22+-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 x 10-9 M). 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.