An efficient DNA-fueled molecular machine for the discrimination of single-base changes.

A new strategy for single-base polymorphism (SNP) detection based on the assembly of DNA-AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) driven by a DNA-fueled molecular machine, is established and optimized. It is highly efficient, works at room temperature, and is easy to handle. A single-base change on an oligonucleotide strand is unambiguously discriminated for either SNPs or insertions and deletions (indels). The strategy is demonstrated to detect a mutation in the breast cancer gene BRCA1 in homogeneous solution at room temperature.