Electro-osmotic screening of the DNA charge in a nanopore.
Extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were performed to characterize the microscopic origin of the force experienced by DNA in a bulk electrolyte and a solid-state nanopore when subject to an external electrostatic field E. The effective screening of the DNA charge was found to originate from the hydrodynamic drag of the electro-osmotic flow that is driven by the motion of counterions along the surface of DNA. We show that the effective driving force F in a nanopore obeys the same law as in a bulk electrolyte: F=ximuE , where xi and mu are the friction coefficient and electrophoretic mobility of DNA, respectively. Using this relationship, we suggest a method for determining the effective driving force on DNA in a nanopore that does not require a direct force measurement.
Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1110 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Binquan
B
Luan
Aleksei
A
Aksimentiev
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009995:Osmosis; D055672:Static Electricity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D014867:Water; D004247:DNA