MNAzyme-catalyzed nucleic acid detection enhanced by a cationic copolymer

Multi-component nucleotide acid enzymes (MNAzymes) derived from RNase-mimic DNAzymes have potential as simple and accurate DNA detectors. To enhance the MNAzyme activity under multiple-turnover conditions, a cationic comb-type copolymer, PLL-g-Dex, that facilitates hybridization and strand exchange reactions of DNA was utilized. The copolymer increased the MNAzyme reaction rate by 200 times, allowing target DNA detection at picomolar concentrations at physiological temperature.