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Published on: February 9, 2024
Ligation-assisted target recycling for DNA nanoswitch biosensors
Vinod Morya1, Andrew Hayden1, Mona Zeghal1
1The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222 USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 4, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel DNA nanoswitch method for highly sensitive biosensing. It enables repeated target reuse through cyclic ligation and removal, amplifying signals without needing target amplification for low-abundance analytes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Conformationally responsive DNA nanoswitches are established biosensors.
- Existing methods face limitations in sensitivity for low-abundance targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel DNA nanoswitch methodology for enhanced biosensing sensitivity.
- To enable repeated target reuse for signal amplification.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic ligation of looped DNA nanoswitches dependent on target binding.
- Cyclic process of annealing, target-dependent ligation, and target removal.
- Demonstration of target removal without affecting the ligated loop structure.
Main Results:
- Achieved target-dependent enzymatic ligation of nanoswitches.
- Confirmed that target removal does not disrupt the ligated loop.
- Demonstrated linear signal amplification over hundreds of cycles through repeated target reuse.
Conclusions:
- The developed method significantly enhances DNA-based sensing sensitivity.
- Enables detection of low-abundance targets by recycling targets for repeated reuse.
- Provides a powerful new tool for biosensing without requiring target amplification.
