Patent ID: 8394946

Claim:
A composition comprising at least two or more component oligonucleotides wherein at least a first component oligonucleotide and a second component oligonucleotide self-assemble in the presence of an MNAzyme assembly facilitator comprising a nucleic acid to form a catalytically active multi-component nucleic acid enzyme (MNAzyme), wherein each of said at least first and said second component oligonucleotides comprise a substrate arm portion, a catalytic core portion from SEQ ID NO:47 or 48, and a sensor arm portion; wherein upon self-assembly, the sensor arm portion of said first and second component oligonucleotides act as sensor arms of the MNAzyme, the substrate arm portion of the first and second component oligonucleotides act as substrate arms of the MNAzyme, and the catalytic core portion of the first and second component oligonucleotides act as a catalytic core of the MNAzyme; and wherein the sensor arms of the MNAzyme hybridize with said MNAzyme assembly facilitator so as to maintain the first and second component oligonucleotides in proximity for association of their respective catalytic core portions to form the catalytic core of the MNAzyme, said catalytic core capable of cleaving at least one substrate comprising a nucleic acid, and wherein said substrate arms of said MNAzyme hybridize to the substrate so that said catalytic core of said MNAzyme is capable of cleaving said substrate; and wherein the catalytic core comprises deoxribonucleotides.