DNA capture into the ClyA nanopore: diffusion-limited versus reaction-limited processes. (29th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nomidis, Stefanos K; Hooyberghs, Jef; Maglia, Giovanni; Carlon, Enrico
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 30:Number 30(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-06-29
• Subjects: transport -- DNA capture -- biological nanopores; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Vaste stoffen; Vloeistoffen; Natuurkunde; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/aacc01
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-8984

Abstract

Abstract: The capture and translocation of biomolecules through nanometer-scale pores are processes with a potentially large number of applications, and hence they have been intensively studied in recent years. The aim of this paper is to review existing models of the capture process by a nanopore, together with some recent experimental data of short single- and double-stranded DNA captured by the Cytolysin A (ClyA) nanopore. ClyA is a transmembrane protein of bacterial origin which has been recently engineered through site-specific mutations, to allow the translocation of double- and single-stranded DNA. A comparison between theoretical estimations and experiments suggests that for both cases the capture is a reaction-limited process. This is corroborated by the observed salt dependence of the capture rate, which we find to be in quantitative agreement with the theoretical predictions.