Single-Molecule Protein Unfolding in Solid State Nanopores
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-8-2009
Abstract
We use single silicon nitride nanopores to study folded, partially folded, and unfolded single proteins by measuring their excluded volumes. The DNA-calibrated translocation signals of β-lactoglobulin and histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein match quantitatively with that predicted by a simple sum of the partial volumes of the amino acids in the polypeptide segment inside the pore when translocation stalls due to the primary charge sequence. Our analysis suggests that the majority of the protein molecules were linear or looped during translocation and that the electrical forces present under physiologically relevant potentials can unfold proteins. Our results show that the nanopore translocation signals are sensitive enough to distinguish the folding state of a protein and distinguish between proteins based on the excluded volume of a local segment of the polypeptide chain that transiently stalls in the nanopore due to the primary sequence of charges.
DOI
10.1021/ja901088b
Montclair State University Digital Commons Citation
Talaga, David and Li, Jiali, "Single-Molecule Protein Unfolding in Solid State Nanopores" (2009). Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 534.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/chem-biochem-facpubs/534