title: Self-assembled DNA nanopores that span lipid bilayers.
abstract: DNA nanotechnology excels at rationally designing bottom-up structures that can functionally replicate naturally occurring proteins. Here we describe the design and generation of a stable DNA-based nanopore that structurally mimics the amphiphilic nature of protein pores and inserts into bilayers to support a steady transmembrane flow of ions. The pore carries an outer hydrophobic belt comprised of small chemical alkyl groups which mask the negatively charged oligonucleotide backbone. This modification overcomes the otherwise inherent energetic mismatch to the hydrophobic environment of the membrane. By merging the fields of nanopores and DNA nanotechnology, we expect that the small membrane-spanning DNA pore will help open up the design of entirely new molecular devices for a broad range of applications including sensing, electric circuits, catalysis, and research into nanofluidics and controlled transmembrane transport.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stulz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Howorka
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D049329:Nanostructures
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D004247:DNA