Sensing and Actuation with a Native GP10 Nanopore

Abstract

Previous GP10 nanopore studies have been limited to a c-terminal His-tag mutant. Here we show that native GP10 can incorporate into a lipid membrane and that the conductance appears to be restricted by both the variable region and the c-terminal crown, areas known to interact with the viral DNA but unresolved in the crystal structure. In addition to the electrophysiology of the channel, we explore the effects of the lipid membrane environment and show the discrimination of different lengths of dsDNA using dwell-time within the pore. We also present an engineered form of GP10 that is rendered photosensitive using a covalently attached azobenzene derivative. This attachment scheme allows us to modulate the conductance of the pore and control passage of dsDNA. Several biological nanopores have been engineered for stochastic sensing and DNA sequencing applications; the aperture size and electrical stability of GP10 makes it an equally attractive candidate for such endeavors.