Subangstrom single-molecule measurements of motor proteins using a nanopore

Nat Biotechnol. 2015 Oct;33(10):1073-5. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3357. Epub 2015 Sep 28.

Abstract

Techniques for measuring the motion of single motor proteins, such as FRET and optical tweezers, are limited to a resolution of ∼300 pm. We use ion current modulation through the protein nanopore MspA to observe translocation of helicase Hel308 on DNA with up to ∼40 pm sensitivity. This approach should be applicable to any protein that translocates on DNA or RNA, including helicases, polymerases, recombinases and DNA repair enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / ultrastructure
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry*
  • DNA Helicases / ultrastructure
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Materials Testing / methods
  • Micromanipulation / methods*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Motion
  • Nanopores / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Protein Binding
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • DNA
  • DNA Helicases