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DNA nanopore translocation in glutamate solutions
1Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands. c.dekker@tudelft.nl.
Nanoscale
|July 25, 2015
Summary
Researchers explored silver/silver-glutamate electrochemistry as a nanopore sensing alternative. Glutamate solutions offer tunable viscosity, significantly slowing DNA translocation for enhanced signal detection in nanopore resistive pulse sensing.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Traditional nanopore experiments rely on chloride-based solutions.
- Alternative electrolytes are needed to optimize nanopore sensing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce and evaluate silver/silver-glutamate electrochemistry for nanopore sensing.
- Investigate the impact of glutamate solutions on viscosity, conductivity, and DNA translocation.
- Assess glutamate as a viable alternative to chloride anions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized silver/silver-glutamate-based electrochemistry.
- Studied potassium-, sodium-, and lithium-glutamate solutions.
- Analyzed viscosity, conductivity, and DNA translocation dynamics through nanopores.
Main Results:
- Glutamate solutions exhibit a linear electrochemical response at typical voltages.
- High-viscosity glutamate solutions slowed DNA translocation by up to 11 times.
- A corresponding 7-fold reduction in signal was observed with increased viscosity.
Conclusions:
- Glutamate can effectively replace chloride as the primary anion in nanopore resistive pulse sensing.
- Glutamate acts as a redox-capable thickening agent, modulating translocation dynamics.
- This approach enhances control over DNA translocation for improved nanopore sensing.
