Colorimetric Hg2+ detection with a label-free and fully DNA-structured sensor assembly incorporating G-quadruplex halves

DNAzyme-based biosensors for mercury (Ⅱ) detection: Rational construction, advances and perspectives

Mercury contamination is one of the most severe issues in society due to its threats to public health and the ecological system. However, traditional methods for mercury ion detection are still limited by their time-consuming procedures, requirement of expensive instruments, and low selectivity. In recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in the development of functional nucleic acid-based, especially DNAzyme sensors for mercury (Ⅱ) (Hg²⁺) determination, including RNA-cleaving DNAzymes and G-quadruplex-based DNAzymes in particular. Researchers have heavily studied the construction of Hg²⁺ sensors, mainly originating from in vitro selection-derived DNAzymes, by incorporating T-Hg²⁺-T recognition moieties in existing DNAzyme scaffolds, and interfacing Hg²⁺-sensitive sequences with nanomaterials. In the last case, the employment of materials (as quenchers, signal transducers and DNA immobilizers) enriches the application scenarios of current Hg²⁺-DNAzymes, due to a combination of their functions. We summarize a broad range of sensing approaches, including optical, electrochemical, and other sensing methods, and compare their features. This review elaborates on the rational design strategies for engineering DNAzymes to selectively sense Hg²⁺, critically discusses their properties in different application scenarios, and summarizes recent advances in this field. Additionally, current progress, challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. This minireview provides deeper insights into the chemistry of these functional nucleic acids when working with Hg²⁺, explains the design ideas of DNAzyme-sensors in each platform, and reveals potential opportunities in developing more advanced DNAzyme sensors for the highly selective and sensitive recognition of Hg²⁺. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Mercury is one of the most toxic metallic contaminants due to its high toxicity, non-biodegradability, and serious human health risks when accumulated in the body. In the recent decade, intensive studies have focused on exploring mercury sensors by combining DNAzymes with various sensing methods, paving a promising avenue to gain ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity. However, so far, no review has introduced the recent advances on DNAzyme-based sensors for mercury detection in a critical way. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the studies on DNAzyme-based sensors for mercury detection using various sensing techniques including optical, electrochemical and other sensing methods.

A review on nanostructure-based mercury (II) detection and monitoring focusing on aptamer and oligonucleotide biosensors

Heavy metal ion pollution is a severe problem in environmental protection and especially in human health due to their bioaccumulation in organisms. Mercury (II) (Hg²⁺), even at low concentrations, can lead to DNA damage and give permanent harm to the central nervous system by easily passing through biological membranes. Therefore, sensitive detection and monitoring of Hg²⁺ is of particular interest with significant specificity. In this review, aptamer-based strategies in combination with nanostructures as well as several other strategies to solve addressed problems in sensor development for Hg²⁺ are discussed in detail. In particular, the analytical performance of different aptamer and oligonucleotide-based strategies using different signal improvement approaches based on nanoparticles were compared within each strategy and in between. Although quite a number of the suggested methodologies analyzed in this review fulfills the standard requirements, further development is still needed on real sample analysis and analytical performance parameters.

Coumarin-based Hg2+ fluorescent probe: Fluorescence turn-on detection for Hg2+ bioimaging in living cells and zebrafish

The need in developing fluorescent probes for trace metal ion detection in biological samples has been an important issue. Herein, a reaction-based fluorescent probe PIC containing a perimidine moiety was designed and synthesized for Hg²⁺ detection. The probe can selectively distinguish Hg²⁺ with 42-fold fluorescent enhancement from the other metal ions at physiological pH. This probe can detect Hg²⁺ with the detection limit of 1.08 μM. The sensor PIC can be applied to real-time detection of Hg²⁺ in cells with blue emission.

Fluorometric determination of mercury(II) by using thymine-thymine mismatches as recognition elements, toehold binding, and enzyme-assisted signal amplification

A highly sensitive fluorometric method is described for the determination of mercury(II) ions. It is based on (a) the use of a DNA probe containing thymine-thymine mismatches that are employed as Hg(II) recognition elements, (b) subsequent toehold binding, and (c) endocuclease-assisted signal amplification. Target recycling is triggered by exonuclease III. This produces a large amount of ssDNA (defined as primer). Then, the generated primer-initiated strand displacement reaction with the help of polymerase and nicking endonuclease releases the free fluorophore-labelled probe. Under excitation at 532 nm, the fluorescent probe displays emission with a peak at 582 nm. The sensitivity of this method is improved by introduction of nicking endonuclease. The working range of the assay extends from 20 pM to 10 nM, and the detection limit is as low as 6 pM of Hg(II). Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the fluorometric method for determination of mercury(II). By using a special structure of thymine-thymine mismatches, target-induced toehold binding and enzyme-assisted signal amplification strategy were employed. This method is selective and good performance in real sample application.

Label-free fluorescent aptasensor berberine-based strategy for ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ ion

A label-free fluorescent aptasensing platform was fabricated and a simple and rapid method to detect Hg²⁺ ion in aqueous solution was put forward by means of berberine and Hg²⁺ ion-aptamer are as the fluorescence probe and the recognition element, respectively. Various factors including the concentration of berberine, Hg²⁺ ion and Hg²⁺ ion-aptamer, pH effect and the reaction time were investigated in detail. Under the optimal experimental conditions, in the sensing system, the fluorescence intensity changes displayed a calibration response for Hg²⁺ ion in the range of 0.1 μM to 10.0 μM and the detection limit was of 7.7 nM (S/N = 3). The fabricated label-free fluorescence aptasensor is not only conveniently but also effectively applicable used for analysis of Hg²⁺ ion in blood serum and tap water samples and the recovery range is of 96.0%-105.7%. In brief, this study offers an easy, economical and stable assay system for detecting Hg²⁺ ion in rough condition.

Strategy for the detection of mercury ions by using exonuclease III-aided target recycling

A new method for the detection of Hg²⁺ by using an Exo III and G-quadruplex-based strategy was reported here.

A colorimetric and fluorometric dual-modal DNA logic gate based on the response of a cyanine dye supramolecule to G-quadruplexes

The INHIBIT DNA logic gate with dual-modal outputs based on the response of MTC aggregates to G-quadruplexes.

How to split a G-quadruplex for DNA detection: new insight into the formation of DNA split G-quadruplex

Here, we get a new insight into the formation of a split G-quadruplex from the viewpoints of the split mode and guanine base number. An unusual result is that the split mode 4 : 8 performed best in six split modes, including the frequently used mode 1 : 3 and 2 : 2 in the split G-quadruplex enhanced fluorescence assay. Circular dichroism spectra verified the conclusion. The application of the split G-quadruplex based assay in DNA detection was performed on the point mutations of the JAK2 V617F and HBB genes. A multi-target analysis method based on a pool of G-segments split from T30695 (GGGTGGGTGGGTGGGT) by the magic "law of 4 : 8" was established.

Selection of a DNA aptamer for cadmium detection based on cationic polymer mediated aggregation of gold nanoparticles

The demand for selection of aptamers against various small chemical molecules has substantially increased in recent years. To incubate and separate target-specific aptamers, the conventional SELEX procedures generally need to immobilize target molecules on a matrix, which may be impotent to screen aptamers toward small molecules without enough sites for immobilization. Herein we chose Cd(II) as a model of a small molecule with less sites, and proposed a novel SELEX strategy of immobilizing ssDNA libraries rather than target molecules on a matrix, for selection of aptamers with high affinity to Cd(II). After eleven rounds of positive and negative selection, twelve T and G-rich of nonrepeating ssDNA sequences were identified, of which the Cd-4 aptamer displayed the highest binding affinity to Cd(II). The secondary structures of these sequences revealed that a stem-loop structure folded by the domain of their 30-random sequence is critical for aptamers to bind targets. Then the interaction between the selected Cd-4 aptamer and Cd(II) was confirmed by CD analysis, and the binding specificity toward other competitive metal ions was also investigated. The dissociation constant (Kd) of Cd-4 aptamer was determined as 34.5 nM for Cd(II). Moreover, the Cd-4 aptamer was considered a recognition element for the colorimetric detection of Cd(II) based on the aggregation of AuNPs by cationic polymer. Through spectroscopic quantitative analysis, Cd(II) in aqueous solution can be detected as low as 4.6 nM. The selected Cd-4 aptamer will offer a new substitute for the detection of Cd(II) or other applications like recovery of cadmium from polluted samples.

Simple, PCR-free telomerase activity detection using G-quadruplex–hemin DNAzyme

A G-quadruplex DNAzyme-based telomerase activity detection method is developed by utilizing telomerase-triggered generation of short G-rich extension products.

DNA logic gate based on metallo-toehold strand displacement

DNA is increasingly being used as an ideal material for the construction of nanoscale structures, circuits, and machines. Toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement reactions play a very important role in these enzyme-free constructions. In this study, the concept of metallo-toehold was utilized to further develop a mechanism for strand displacement driven by Ag+ ions, in which the intercalation of cytosine-cytosine mismatched base pairs on the toeholds provides additional control by varying of the concentration of Ag+ ions. The characteristics of displacement reaction in response to different concentration of Ag+ ions are investigated by fluorescence spectral and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The reaction can successfully occur when the concentration of Ag+ ions is suitabe; excess Ag+ ions block the reaction. Furthermore, the displacement reaction can be tuned and controlled most efficiently under the condition of two C:C mismatched base pairs placed on the six-nt toehold. Based on our research, a mechanism was developed to construct Boolean logic gate AND and OR by employing strand displacement reaction as a tool, Ag+ and Hg2+ as input.

Spectral properties and thermal stability of AS1411 G-quadruplex

G-quadruplexes are supramolecular structures of G-rich nucleic acid, formed by non-canonical base pairing in the presence of specific environmental inducers. These structures have been vastly considered in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, detailed information on structure, optical properties and thermal stability of G-quadruplex potent oligonucleotides is scarce. Herein, optical properties and thermodynamic stability of AS1411 quadruplex is reported for various concentrations of potassium and lead ions. Circular dichroism showed that AS1411 ss-DNA folds into parallel conformation in the presence of metal ions and molecular crowding condition. UV-vis spectroscopy indicated formation of quadruplex and fluorescent spectroscopy revealed intercalation of PicoGreen in its structure, with enhancement of emission intensity upon increment of metal ion concentration. This investigation also proposes high-throughput and reliable analysis of AS1411 quadruplex's thermal stability by real-time PCR technique, which can be further applied for other quadruplex structures.

A novel aptamer-based competition strategy for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of leukemia cells

A robust, nanobiotechnology-based electrochemical cytosensing platform for the detection of acute leukemia cells was developed with high sensitivity, selectivity, acceptable rapidity and excellent extensibility. It utilized the competitive binding of cell-specific aptamers to acute leukemia cells and subsequent voltammetric quantification of the metal signature. Greatly enhanced sensitivity was achieved with dual signal amplification by using Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as carriers to load a large amount of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and AuNP-catalyzed silver deposition. The proposed competitive cytosensor showed high sensitivity with a detection limit down to 10 cells. This simple and low-cost electrochemical cytosensing approach offers great promise to extend its application to early detection of human leukemia and possibly to other cancer cells.

DNA as sensors and imaging agents for metal ions

Increasing interest in detecting metal ions in many chemical and biomedical fields has created demands for developing sensors and imaging agents for metal ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. This review covers recent progress in DNA-based sensors and imaging agents for metal ions. Through both combinatorial selection and rational design, a number of metal-ion-dependent DNAzymes and metal-ion-binding DNA structures that can selectively recognize specific metal ions have been obtained. By attachment of these DNA molecules with signal reporters such as fluorophores, chromophores, electrochemical tags, and Raman tags, a number of DNA-based sensors for both diamagnetic and paramagnetic metal ions have been developed for fluorescent, colorimetric, electrochemical, and surface Raman detection. These sensors are highly sensitive (with a detection limit down to 11 ppt) and selective (with selectivity up to millions-fold) toward specific metal ions. In addition, through further development to simplify the operation, such as the use of "dipstick tests", portable fluorometers, computer-readable disks, and widely available glucose meters, these sensors have been applied for on-site and real-time environmental monitoring and point-of-care medical diagnostics. The use of these sensors for in situ cellular imaging has also been reported. The generality of the combinatorial selection to obtain DNAzymes for almost any metal ion in any oxidation state and the ease of modification of the DNA with different signal reporters make DNA an emerging and promising class of molecules for metal-ion sensing and imaging in many fields of applications.

Mechanism of the hairpin folding transformation of thymine-cytosine-rich oligonucleotides induced by Hg(II) and Ag(I) ions

The metal-induced folding of thymine-cytosine-rich oligonucleotides into hairpin-like structures was characterised by isothermal titration calorimetry, secondary structure analysis, equilibrium titrations, and fluorescence study. We find that designed thymine-cytosine-rich oligonucleotides can specifically bind with Hg(II) or Ag(I) ions to generate metal-mediated base pairs in a hairpin-like structure from a random coil structure. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments were performed to reveal the detail of the whole binding process. The thermodynamic result exhibits two possible pathways of significant change upon the addition of Hg(II) ions. Furthermore, this transformation can be enhanced by the presence of Ag(I) ions. The fluorescence decreases through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the fluorophore and quencher confirms the process of formation of the hairpin-like structure. The analysis of optical titration data demonstrates that the saturated binding stoichiometries are 12:1 and 4:1 for Hg(II) and Ag(I) ions, respectively. Our result provides a promising strategy for the investigation of the mechanism of structural transformation of oligonucleotides influenced by metal-mediated base pairs, which may eventually lead to progress in constructing a metal-triggered DNA origami system and metal-containing DNA nanotechnology.

A novel optical thrombin aptasensor based on magnetic nanoparticles and split DNAzyme

In this paper, we report a novel and sensitive optical sensing protocol for thrombin detection based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and thrombin aptamer, employing split HRP-mimicking DNAzyme halves as its sensing element, which can catalyze the H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of the colorless ABTS into a blue-green product. A single nucleotide containing the recognition element and sensing element is utilized in our protocol. The specific recognition of thrombin and its aptamer leads to the structure deformation of the DNA strands and causes the split of the DNAzyme halves. Therefore, the decrease of absorption spectra can be recorded by the UV-visible Spectrophotometer. DNA-coated MNPs are utilized to separate the interferential materials from the analyst, thus making this assay can be applied in the detection of thrombin in complex samples, such as human plasma. This original, sensitive and cost-effective assay showed favorable recognition for thrombin. The absorbance signals with the concentration of thrombin over a range from 0.5 to 20 nM and the detection limit of thrombin was 0.5 nM. The controlled experiments showed that thrombin signal was not interfered in the presence of other co-existence proteins.

Aptamers for allosteric regulation

Aptamers are useful for allosteric regulation because they are nucleic acid-based structures in which ligand binding induces conformational changes that may alter the function of a connected oligonucleotide at a distant site. Through this approach, a specific input is efficiently converted into an altered output. This property makes these biomolecules ideally suited to function as sensors or switches in biochemical assays or inside living cells. The ability to select oligonucleotide-based recognition elements in vitro in combination with the availability of nucleic acids with enzymatic activity has led to the development of a wide range of engineered allosteric aptasensors and aptazymes. Here, we discuss recent progress in the screening, design and diversity of these conformational switching oligonucleotides. We cover their application in vitro and for regulating gene expression in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Label-free fluorescent detection of thrombin using G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as sensing platform

We report herein a label-free and sensitive fluorescent method for detection of thrombin using a G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as the sensing platform. The thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) is able to bind hemin to form the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme, and thrombin can significantly enhance the activity of the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme. The G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme is found to effectively catalyze the H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of thiamine, giving rise to fluorescence emission. This allows us to utilize the H(2)O(2)-thiamine fluorescent system for the quantitative analysis of thrombin. The assay shows a linear toward thrombin concentration in the range of 0.01-0.12 nM. The present limit of detection for thrombin is 1 pM, and the sensitivity for analyzing thrombin is improved by about 10,000-fold as compared with the reported colorimetric counterpart. The work also demonstrates that thiamine is an excellent substrate for the fluorescence assay using the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as the sensing platform.

G-quadruplex DNAzyme-based Hg2+ and cysteine sensors utilizing Hg2+-mediated oligonucleotide switching

A simple and sensitive colorimetric Hg(2+) detection method is reported, based on the Hg(2+)-mediated structural switch of an unlabeled oligonucleotide strand. In the absence of Hg(2+), the oligonucleotide strand forms a stem-loop. A G-rich sequence in the strand is partially caged in the stem-loop structure and cannot fold into a G-quadruplex. In the presence of Hg(2+), T-Hg(2+)-T coordination chemistry leads to the formation of another stem-loop structure and the release of the G-rich sequence. The released sequence folds into a G-quadruplex, which binds hemin to form catalytically active G-quadruplex DNAzymes. This is detected as an absorbance increase in a H(2)O(2)-2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) reaction system using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. This simple colorimetric sensor can detect aqueous Hg(2+) at concentrations as low as 9.2 nM with high selectivity. Based on the strong binding interaction between Hg(2+) and the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine (Cys), and the competition between Cys and a oligonucleotide for Hg(2+), the proposed Hg(2+)-sensing system can be further exploited as a Cys-sensing method. The method has a detection limit for Cys of 19 nM.

A simple and label-free sensor for mercury(II) detection in aqueous solution by malachite green based on a resonance scattering spectral assay

Mercury ions (Hg(2+)) can specifically interact with the thymine-rich Hg(2+) aptamer and malachite green (MG) to form the Hg(2+) aptamer-MG-Hg(2+) complex, inducing the increase of resonance scattering (RS) intensity at 611 nm, which enables the label-free detection of Hg(2+) in aqueous solution with high selectivity and a detection limit of 1.7 nM.

A simple and sensitive fluorescent sensing platform for Hg²+ ions assay based on G-quenching

In this work, a novel fluorescence biosensor was demonstrated for detection of Hg(2+) ions with relatively high selectivity and sensitivity. The sensing scheme was based on G-quenching induced by Hg(2+) ions. In the presence of Hg(2+) ions, the single-stranded signal probe which has carboxylfluorescein (FAM) and guanine segment at its 5' and 3' ends, respectively, folded into duplex-like structure via the Hg(2+)-mediated coordination of T-Hg(2+)-T base pairs. It brought guannine segment close to the dye and caused a remarkable decrease of fluorescence signal. The sensor showed a sensitive response to Hg(2+) ions in a concentration range from 0.5 to 10 μM, and a detection limit of 0.5 nM was given. This homogeneous system required only a single-labeled oligonucleotide, operated by concise procedures, and possessed comparable sensitivity as previous approaches. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits a great perspective for future practical applications.

Aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticle-based bioassay for the detection of ochratoxin A using upconversion nanoparticles as labels

A sensitive luminescent bioassay for the detection of ochratoxin A (OTA), a small molecular mycotoxin, was developed using aptamer-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as the recognition and concentration element and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as highly sensitive labels. The bioassay system was fabricated by immobilizing aptamer DNA 1 sequence onto the surface of Fe(3)O(4) MNPs, which were implemented to capture and concentrate OTA from bulk samples. The aptamer DNA 1 sequence then hybridized with UCNPs modified with DNA 2 sequence, which could dissociate from DNA 1 and result in a decreased luminescent signal when aptamer DNA 1 recognized and bound to target OTA. Under the optimal conditions, the decreased luminescent intensity (ΔI) is proportional to the concentration of OTA in the range of 1 × 10(-13) to 1 × 10(-9) g mL(-1) with a detection limit of 1 × 10(-13) g mL(-1). The proposed method then was successfully applied to measure OTA in naturally contaminated maize samples and validated by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Benefiting from the magnetic separation and concentration effect of MNPs, the high sensitivity of UCNPs, as well as the selectivity and stability of the aptamer, the present upconversion luminescent bioassay offers a promising approach for the screening of small molecular mycotoxins because it is simple, rapid, highly sensitive, specific, does not require sample pre-concentration and lacks interference from autofluorescence of other biomolecules.

Electrostatically directed visual fluorescence response of DNA-functionalized monolithic hydrogels for highly sensitive Hg²+ detection

Hydrogels are cross-linked hydrophilic polymer networks with low optical background and high loading capacity for immobilization of biomolecules. Importantly, the property of hydrogel can be precisely controlled by changing the monomer composition. This feature, however, has not been investigated in the rational design of hydrogel-based optical sensors. We herein explore electrostatic interactions between an immobilized mercury binding DNA, a DNA staining dye (SYBR Green I), and the hydrogel backbone. A thymine-rich DNA was covalently functionalized within monolithic hydrogels containing a positive, neutral, or negative backbone. These hydrogels can be used as sensors for mercury detection since the DNA can selectively bind Hg(2+) between thymine bases inducing a hairpin structure. SYBR Green I can then bind to the hairpin to emit green fluorescence. For the neutral or negatively charged gels, addition of the dye in the absence of Hg(2+) resulted in intense yellow background fluorescence, which was attributed to SYBR Green I binding to the unfolded DNA. We found that, by introducing 20% positively charged allylamine monomer, the background fluorescence was significantly reduced. This was attributed to the repulsion between positively charged SYBR Green I by the gel matrix as well as the strong binding between the DNA and the gel backbone. The signal-to-background ratio and detection limit was, respectively, improved by 6- and 9-fold using the cationic gel instead of neutral polyacrylamide gel. This study helps understand the electrostatic interaction within hydrogels, showing that hydrogels can not only serve as a high capacity matrix for sensor immobilization but also can actively influence the interaction between involved molecules.

Metal ion sensors based on DNAzymes and related DNA molecules

Metal ion sensors are an important yet challenging field in analytical chemistry. Despite much effort, only a limited number of metal ion sensors are available for practical use because sensor design is often a trial-and-error-dependent process. DNAzyme-based sensors, in contrast, can be developed through a systematic selection that is generalizable for a wide range of metal ions. Here, we summarize recent progress in the design of DNAzyme-based fluorescent, colorimetric, and electrochemical sensors for metal ions, such as Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Hg(2+), and UO(2)(2+). In addition, we also describe metal ion sensors based on related DNA molecules, including T-T or C-C mismatches and G-quadruplexes.

Homogeneous analysis: label-free and substrate-free aptasensors

In this Focus Review, we introduce a kind of "label-free" and "substrate-free" (LFSF) aptasensor that carries out the whole sensing process in a homogeneous solution. This means that commonly used covalent label; separation, and immobilization steps in biosensors are successfully avoided, which simplifies the sensing operations to the greatest degree. After brief description about the advantages of aptamers and "LFSF" aptasensors, the main content of the review is divided into fluorescent aptasenors, calorimetric aptasensors, and hemin-aptamer-DNAzyme "LFSF" aptasensors, which are three most widely developed sensing systems in this field. It is hoped that this review can provide an overall scene about how aptamers function as ideal recognition elements in smart analysis.

Lysozyme-stabilized gold fluorescent cluster: Synthesis and application as Hg(2+) sensor

Highly fluorescent gold clusters have been synthesized in basic aqueous solution by using lysozyme as reducing and stabilizing agents. The lysozyme-stabilized gold fluorescent clusters (LsGFC) have an average size of 1 nm and emission approximately 657 nm. The fluorescence could be specifically quenched by Hg(2+), so the LsGFC can be used as a sensor for sensitive and selective Hg(2+) detection with a detection limit of 10 nM.

Quantitative detection of Ag(+) and cysteine using G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes

A highly sensitive and selective Ag(+) detection method was developed based on the Ag(+)-mediated formation of G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes. In this method, two unlabelled oligonucleotides with different lengths are used. In the absence of Ag(+), the two oligonucleotides hybridize to each other to form an intermolecular duplex. The addition of Ag(+) can disrupt the intermolecular duplex and promote a part of the sequence of the longer oligonucleotide to fold into an intramolecular duplex, in which cytosine-cytosine (C-C) mismatches are stabilized by C-Ag(+)-C base pairs. As a result, the G-rich sequence of the same oligonucleotide can fold into a G-quadruplex, which is able to bind hemin to form a catalytically active G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme. This can be reflected by an absorbance increase when monitored in the H(2)O(2)-ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonic acid) reaction system by using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. This 'turn-on' process allows the detection of aqueous Ag(+) at concentrations as low as 20 nM using a simple colorimetric technique. Considering that Cysteine (Cys) is a strong binder of Ag(+), the presence of Cys may disrupt the C-Ag(+)-C base pairs in the intramolecular duplex, resulting in the reformation of the intermolecular duplex and the decrease of the catalytic activity of the sensing system. Therefore, the Ag(+)-sensing system can be further developed as a Cys-sensing system. This method allows the detection of Cys with a detection limit of 25 nM. With the development of the studies on DNA-metal base pairs, this Ag(+)-sensing method can be easily extended to the analysis of other metal ions.