Voltage controlled shutter regulates channel size and motion direction of protein aperture as durable nano-electric rectifier-----An opinion in biomimetic nanoaperture.

ABSTRACT: In optical devices such as camera or microscope, an aperture is used to regulate light intensity for imaging. Here we report the discovery and construction of a durable bio-aperture at nanometerscale that can regulate current at the pico-ampere scale. The nano-aperture is made of 12 identical protein subunits that form a 3.6-nm channel with a shutter and "one-way traffic" property. This shutter responds to electrical potential differences across the aperture and can be turned off for double stranded DNA translocation. This voltage enables directional control, and three-step regulation for opening and closing. The nano-aperture was constructed in vitro and purified into homogeneity. The aperture was stable at pH2-12, and a temperature of -85C-60C. When an electrical potential was held, thre

SUBMITTER: Bhullar AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9766157 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature