title: Unzipping kinetics of double-stranded DNA in a nanopore.
abstract: We studied the unzipping of single molecules of double-stranded DNA by pulling one of their two strands through a narrow protein pore. Polymerase chain reaction analysis yielded the first direct proof of DNA unzipping in such a system. The time to unzip each molecule was inferred from the ionic current signature of DNA traversal. The distribution of times to unzip under various experimental conditions fit a simple kinetic model. Using this model, we estimated the enthalpy barriers to unzipping and the effective charge of a nucleotide in the pore, which was considerably smaller than previously assumed.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sauer-Budge
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nyamwanda
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lubensky
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Branton
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D004247:DNA