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Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution
Published on: August 16, 2016
Active DNA unwinding and transport by a membrane-adapted helicase nanopore
Ke Sun1, Changjian Zhao1, Xiaojun Zeng1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Abstract:
Nanoscale transport through nanopores and live-cell membranes plays a vital role in both key biological processes as well as biosensing and DNA sequencing. Active translocation of DNA through these nanopores usually needs enzyme assistance. Here we present a nanopore derived from truncated helicase E1 of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) with a lumen diameter of c.a. 1.3 nm. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging and single channel recording confirm its insertion into planar lipid bilayer (BLM). The helicase nanopore in BLM allows the passive single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) transport and retains the helicase activity in vitro. Furthermore, we incorporate this helicase nanopore into the live cell membrane of HEK293T cells, and monitor the ssDNA delivery into the cell real-time at single molecule level. This type of nanopore is expected to provide an interesting tool to study the biophysics of biomotors in vitro, with potential applications in biosensing, drug delivery and real-time single cell analysis.
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