Nanoelectromechanics of Methylated DNA in a Synthetic Nanopore

作者：Mirsaidov U^*; Timp W; Zou X; Dimitrov V; Schulten K; Feinberg A P; Timp G

来源：Biophysical Journal, 2009, 96(4): L32-L34.

DOI：10.1016/j.bpj.2008.12.3760

Methylation of cytosine is a covalent modification of DNA that can be used to silence genes, orchestrating a myriad of biological processes including cancer. We have discovered that a synthetic nanopore in a membrane comparable in thickness to a protein binding site can be used to detect methylation. We observe a voltage threshold for permeation of methylated DNA through a <2 nm diameter pore, which we attribute to the stretching transition; this can differ by > 1 V/20 nm depending on the methylation level, but not the DNA sequence.

• 出版日期2009-2-18
• 单位北京大学