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Slowing down DNA translocation through a nanopore by lowering fluid temperature
Li-Hsien Yeh1, Mingkan Zhang, Sang W Joo
1Institute of Micro/Nanotechnology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.
Electrophoresis
|November 6, 2012
Summary
Lowering fluid temperature slows DNA translocation through nanopores, enhancing DNA sequencing accuracy. This theoretical study demonstrates temperature
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biophysics
- Genomics
Background:
- Nanopore sequencing uses electric fields to drive DNA through a nanopore, recording ionic current changes for sequence reading.
- High electric fields cause rapid DNA translocation, leading to low sequence read-out accuracy.
- Slowing DNA translocation is crucial for improving nanopore sequencing precision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate the effect of lowering fluid temperature on DNA translocation speed in nanopore sequencing.
- To explore temperature as a method for enhancing DNA sequencing accuracy.
Main Methods:
- A continuum model coupling Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Navier-Stokes equations was used.
- Simulations analyzed ionic mass transport and hydrodynamic fields under varying temperatures and salt concentrations.
Main Results:
- Lowering fluid temperature from 25°C to 0°C significantly reduced DNA translocation speed.
- Translocation speed decreased by approximately 49.8% at 200 mM and 49.7% at 2000 mM salt concentration.
- Ionic current signal magnitude varied with temperature and salt concentration.
Conclusions:
- Reducing fluid temperature is a viable strategy to slow DNA translocation and improve nanopore sequencing accuracy.
- Theoretical findings align with existing experimental observations.
- Temperature control offers a method to optimize nanopore DNA sequencing performance.
