Translocation of double-stranded DNA through membrane-adapted phi29 motor protein nanopores

Nat Nanotechnol. 2009 Nov;4(11):765-72. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2009.259. Epub 2009 Sep 27.

Abstract

Biological pores have been used to study the transport of DNA and other molecules, but most pores have channels that allow only the movement of small molecules and single-stranded DNA and RNA. The bacteriophage phi29 DNA-packaging motor, which allows double-stranded DNA to enter the virus during maturation and exit during an infection, contains a connector protein with a channel that is between 3.6 and 6 nm wide. Here we show that a modified version of this connector protein, when reconstituted into liposomes and inserted into planar lipid bilayers, allows the translocation of double-stranded DNA. The measured conductance of a single connector channel was 4.8 nS in 1 M KCl. This engineered and membrane-adapted phage connector is expected to have applications in microelectromechanical sensing, microreactors, gene delivery, drug loading and DNA sequencing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophages / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • DNA Packaging
  • DNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Porosity

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • DNA, Viral
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • portal protein, bacteriophage phi29
  • DNA