title: Probing molecular pathways for DNA orientational trapping, unzipping and translocation in nanopores by using a tunable overhang sensor.
abstract: Nanopores provide a unique single-molecule platform for genetic and epigenetic detection. The target nucleic acids can be accurately analyzed by characterizing their specific electric fingerprints or signatures in the nanopore. Here we report a series of novel nanopore signatures generated by target nucleic acids that are hybridized with a probe. A length-tunable overhang appended to the probe functions as a sensor to specifically modulate the nanopore current profile. The resulting signatures can reveal multiple mechanisms for the orientational trapping, unzipping, escaping and translocation of nucleic acids in the nanopore. This universal approach can be used to program various molecular movement pathways, elucidate their kinetics, and enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the nanopore sensor for nucleic acid detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering and Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. wayong@missouri.edu gul@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lehr L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ritzo
authors.forename: Li-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009038:Motion; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes