MNAzymes are Multi-component Nucleic Acid enzymes which only form in the presence of target analytes that serve as assembly facilitators. Once assembled, MNAzymes can catalytically modify substrates producing signals, indicating the presence of target(s).
MNAzymes are composed of multiple partial enzymes or ‘partzymes’ each of which comprises only part of a catalytic core flanked by substrate arms, which bind a reporter substrate or probe, and sensor arms which recognize and bind to an assembly facilitator with high specificity. While partzymes are inherently inactive, when they combine in the presence of an assembly facilitator (eg a target nucleic acid), they form active MNAzymes which are true multiple turnover enzymes. MNAzymes catalytically modify substrates, which may be universal reporter probes, whilst leaving the assembly facilitator intact.
