Abstract: The present invention relates to catalytic, nucleic acid nanostmctures that enable versatile detection of RNAs, their use, and devices comprising same. The nanostructure comprises a DNA polymerase enzyme, a DNA aptamer and an inverter oligonucleotide, wherein the DNA aptamer comprising (i) a conserved sequence region for binding to the DNA polymerase enzyme, wherein the binding inactivates the polymerase activity, (ii) a variable sequence region for binding to the inverter oligonucleotide, and (iii) a duplex stabilizer region that lies between the conserved sequence region and the variable sequence region. The present invention also relates to the use of the nanostructure in a method of detection of nucleic acid for diagnosing a disease in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to signalling catalytic nucleic acid nanostructures that are responsive to polymerase activity, methods of their use, devices and kits comprising the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalytic signalling nanostructure comprising a DNAzyme/RNAzyme, such as G-quadruplex hemin, and a polymerase—responsive element. Polymerase elongation of the polymerase-responsive element eliminates catalytic activity of the DNAzyme/RNAzyme. The catalytic nucleic acid nanostructure can be used alone or paired with a target recognition nanostructure which can transduce molecular signals into polymerase activity, in an integrated circuit.