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Related Concept Videos

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels01:09

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels

In multi-pass transmembrane proteins, the polypeptide chain crosses the membrane more than once. The transmembrane polypeptide chain either forms an α-helix or β-strand structure. α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins are ubiquitous, whereas β-strand containing ones are mainly found in gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
Structure of Porins01:21

Structure of Porins

Mitochondria, chloroplasts, and gram-negative bacteria have transmembrane, beta-barrel proteins called porins to mediate the free diffusion of ions and metabolites across the membrane. Mitochondrial porin precursors contain conserved amino acid sequences called beta signals at their C-terminal. Beta signals have a  motif of PoXGXXHyXHy (Po-Polar, X-Any amino acid, G-Glycine, Hy-LargeHydrophobic), which are crucial for precursor recognition to initiate precursor assembly. Beta-barrel precursors...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
Nucleic acids02:43

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
Aquaporins01:25

Aquaporins

Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution
11:55

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution

Published on: August 16, 2016

Membrane-Spanning Nanopores Formed from Nucleic Acids.

Yunxuan Li1, Tim Karrasch2,3, Ulrich F Keyser1

  • 1Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 19, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.

Chemical Reviews
|May 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Synthetic nucleic acid nanopores offer programmable, versatile alternatives for single-molecule sensing and synthetic biology. DNA nanopores are advancing applications from ion transport to cellular manipulation.

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Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores
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Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores

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A Closed-Type Wireless Nanopore Electrode for Analyzing Single Nanoparticles
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A Closed-Type Wireless Nanopore Electrode for Analyzing Single Nanoparticles

Published on: March 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution
11:55

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution

Published on: August 16, 2016

Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores
08:51

Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores

Published on: December 2, 2011

A Closed-Type Wireless Nanopore Electrode for Analyzing Single Nanoparticles
08:31

A Closed-Type Wireless Nanopore Electrode for Analyzing Single Nanoparticles

Published on: March 20, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and Nanotechnology
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Transmembrane-spanning nanopores are crucial for single-molecule sensing and various technological applications.
  • Protein-based nanopores have limitations, driving the need for synthetic alternatives.
  • Nucleic acid self-assembly offers a programmable and versatile approach to nanopore construction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in synthetic, membrane-spanning nucleic acid nanopores, focusing on DNA nanopores.
  • To summarize design principles, advantages, and disadvantages of different nucleic acid nanopore architectures.
  • To discuss applications in synthetic cell signaling, single-molecule detection, and cellular manipulation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of rational design principles for nucleic acid nanopore construction.
  • Analysis of diverse architectures, from subnanometer channels to customizable geometries.
  • Discussion of membrane anchoring, lipid rearrangement effects, and dynamic functional control.

Main Results:

  • Nucleic acid nanopores provide programmable and versatile nanochannels.
  • Diverse architectures enable selective ion translocation and macromolecule transport.
  • Functional integration into synthetic cell signaling and manipulation systems is demonstrated.

Conclusions:

  • Nucleic acid nanopores are a powerful, programmable platform for advanced sensing and synthetic biology.
  • RNA origami presents future opportunities for genetically encodable nanopores.
  • This field holds significant potential for bottom-up synthetic biology applications.