Abstract: Provided herein is an assay for the detection of an analyte and a method therefore. The assay and method depend upon detecting the binding of an analyte to a capturing agent positioned on DNA through the production of a reporter. The assay and the method of the invention are simple because the assay can be conducted in a single tube, sensitive because concentrations of both the activator complex and the DNA construct drive the analyte-recognition reaction, and readily adaptable for automation.