MNA COMPLEX MOLECULAR SWITCHES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE

摘要

Disclosed is the use of a multi-component nucleic acid (MNA) complex as a molecular switch. The MNA complex is able to transition from an inactive to a catalytically active MNAzyme in response to an input event and vice versa. The MNAzyme is comprised of two oligonucleotide partzymes that assemble in the presence of an assembly facilitator. An inhibitor oligonucleotide can be used to keep the MNA complex in an inactive state until an input signal is received or once the input signal ceases transition the active MNAzyme to an inactive MNA complex. The MNA complexes are further used in methods to create molecular sensors, molecular switches and/or modulators or propagators of autocatalytic self-replicating cascades and other iterative processes.