Probing the Structural Properties of RNA using Solid-State Nanopores

Abstract

Solid-State Nanopores have been used extensively to investigate the physical properties of DNA. As a result, we are on the verge of using these nanopore devices as local-force probes for investigating DNA structure and protein/DNA interactions. However, DNA is not the only biopolymer with an important role within the cell.Here we show, the first observations of RNA molecule translocation through a solid-state nanopore. We have recorded the translocations of hetero-polymeric double-stranded A-RNA and homo-polymeric single strands of RNA through a solid-state nanopore device.We compare the relative blockage currents of these molecules to the well-characterized values obtained for B-DNA, which we use here as a calibration tool. In this way, we have been able to discern differing polymer diameters of 2 - 3 nm, with sub-nanometer resolution. Such high resolution measurements demonstrate that small differences in polymer thickness, e.g. due to the binding of a protein, can be readily detected using our solid-state nanopore device.