How fluorescent labels affect the kinetics of the toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement reaction

End modification of the toehold domain or near to it using fluorophore dyes or quenchers can significantly modulate the kinetics of the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction (TMSDR) by almost two orders of magnitude. The labels at the end of the signal strand impede the TMSDR, while those at the end of the toehold domain of the substrate strand accelerate the TMSDR kinetics.