Compositions and methods of altering a nucleic acid with ribonuclease

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a polynucleotide capable of signaling under preselected conditions. For example, the present disclosure relates to a method of reconfiguring a nucleic acid or polynucleotide, including: contacting a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanoswitch and nucleic acid to form a DNA nanoswitch-nucleic acid complex having a first conformation, wherein the first conformation is characterized as locked; contacting the DNA nanoswitch-nucleic acid complex with a biological specimen to form a mixture, wherein when the nucleic acid is ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the biological specimen includes one or more ribonucleases, the first conformation changes to a second conformation characterized as open; processing the mixture under conditions sufficient to separate the first conformation, and when present, the second conformation; and reacting the first conformation, and when present, the second conformation with an indicator under conditions sufficient to form a signal.

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