DNA Translocation through Nanopores at Physiological Ionic Strengths Requires Precise Nanoscale Engineering.

ABSTRACT: Many important processes in biology involve the translocation of a biopolymer through a nanometer-scale pore. Moreover, the electrophoretic transport of DNA across nanopores is under intense investigation for single-molecule DNA sequencing and analysis. Here, we show that the precise patterning of the ClyA biological nanopore with positive charges is crucial to observe the electrophoretic translocation of DNA at physiological ionic strength. Surprisingly, the strongly electronegative 3.3 nm internal constriction of the nanopore did not require modifications. Further, DNA translocation could only be observed from the wide entry of the nanopore. Our results suggest that the engineered positive charges are important to align the DNA in order to overcome the entropic and electrostatic barriers

SUBMITTER: Franceschini L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5221729 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature