Target-induced Trivalent G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme for Colorimetric Detection of Hg^(2+) Based on an Exonuclease III Assisted Catalytic Hairpin Assembly

Mercury ion(Hg^(2+)),a highly noxious of heavy metalion,has detrimental effects on the ecological environment and human health.Herein,we have developed an exonuclease III(Exo III)assisted catalytic hairpin assembly formation of a trivalent G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme for colorimetric detection of Hg^(2+).A hairpin DNA(Hr)was designed with thymine-Hg^(2+)-thymine pairs that catalyzed by Exo III is prompted to happen upon binding Hg^(2+).A released DNA fragment triggers the catalytic assembly of other three hairpins(H1,H2,and H3)to form many trivalent G-quadruplex/hemin DNA enzymes for signal output.The developed sensor shows a dynamic range from 2 pM to 2μM,with an impressively low detection limit of 0.32 pM for Hg^(2+)detection.Such a sensor also has good selectivity toward Hg^(2+)detection in the presence of other common metal ions.This strategy shows the great potential for visual detection with portable type.