Title: A proposition for single molecule DNA sequencing through a nanopore entropic trap

Authors: Stephen J. Sowerby, George B. Petersen

Addresses: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. ' Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract: We propose that a DNA entropic trap constructed from a single resizable nanopore could be tuned in real time to capture a single-stranded polynucleotide. With a nanopore of sufficient discriminatory capability, the trapped polynucleotide will be immobilised within the corrugational trough of an inter-nucleotide separation and the prolonged dwell time will enable scrutiny of the nucleotide composition by extended measurement of the resistive pulse signal. The nanopore will be tuned to facilitate single nucleotide translocation, allowing for the processive examination of consecutive nucleotides.

Keywords: Brownian; Coulter; ratchet; sensor; stochastic; nanotechnology; single molecule DNA; DNA sequencing; resizable nanopores; DNA entropic trap; polynucleotides; single nucleotide translocation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2009.022928

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.398 - 407

Published online: 03 Feb 2009 *

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