Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1

Title: Synthetic lipid membrane channels formed by designed DNA nanostructures.

Authors: Martin Langecker, Vera Arnaut, Thomas G Martin, Jonathan List, Stephan Renner, Michael Mayer, Hendrik Dietz, Friedrich C Simmel

Journal, date & volume: Science, 2012 Nov 16 , 338, 932-6

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23161995

Abstract
We created nanometer-scale transmembrane channels in lipid bilayers by means of self-assembled DNA-based nanostructures. Scaffolded DNA origami was used to create a stem that penetrated and spanned a lipid membrane, as well as a barrel-shaped cap that adhered to the membrane, in part via 26 cholesterol moieties. In single-channel electrophysiological measurements, we found similarities to the response of natural ion channels, such as conductances on the order of 1 nanosiemens and channel gating. More pronounced gating was seen for mutations in which a single DNA strand of the stem protruded into the channel. Single-molecule translocation experiments show that the synthetic channels can be used to discriminate single DNA molecules.