Session P2: Nanopore World: from Single-Molecules to Bionanotechnology Prospects

11:15 AM–1:39 PM, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Colorado Convention Center - Four Seasons 4

Sponsoring Unit: DBP
Chair: Liviu Movileanu, Syracuse University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.MAR.P2.2

Abstract: P2.00002 : Entropic springs in single-molecule polymer partitioning into protein nano-pores

11:51 AM–12:27 PM

Preview Abstract

Author:

  Sergey Bezrukov
    (National Institutes of Health)

The capture and release of single polyethylene glycol molecules by the alpha-Hemolysin pore are observed as time-resolved reversible steps in ion conductance. The capture on-rate, inferred from the step frequency, decreases monotonically with polymer size. However, the polymer residence time shows a cross-over behavior, first increasing and then decreasing with molecular weight (\textit{Phys. Rev. Lett.}, 2006, \textbf{97}:018301). Our interpretation is that in case of polymers which are too large to be accommodated within the pore, the out-of-the-pore part of the molecule pulls on the trapped part thus acting as an entropic spring.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.MAR.P2.2