Single-molecule analysis of DNA-protein complexes using nanopores
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Published on: October 31, 2013
Breton Hornblower1, Amy Coombs, Richard D Whitaker
1Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA.
Abstract:
We present a method for rapid measurement of DNA-protein interactions using voltage-driven threading of single DNA molecules through a protein nanopore. Electrical force applied to individual ssDNA-exonuclease I complexes pulls the two molecules apart, while ion current probes the dissociation rate of the complex. Nanopore force spectroscopy (NFS) reveals energy barriers affecting complex dissociation. This method can be applied to other nucleic acid-protein complexes, using protein or solid-state nanopore devices.
