Isothermal cycling and cascade signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive colorimetric detection of nucleic acids

We have designed a novel isothermal cascade signal-amplification strategy for ultrasensitive colorimetric determination of nucleic acids. It is based on double-cycling amplification with formation of DNAzyme via a polymerase-induced strand-displacement reaction and nicking endonuclease-assisted recycling. The assay makes use of a hairpin DNA, a short primer, KF-polymerase, and nicking endonuclease. The presence of a target DNA triggers the strand-displacement and polymerization reaction with the formation of numerous DNAzyme molecules. Upon addition of H2O2 to the resulting mixture, the H2O2 reacts with 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonate to form a colored product in the aid of DNAzyme, which is quantified by photometry at 415 nm. Under optimal conditions, the assay allows target DNA to be determined at concentration as low as 0.6 aM.