Discrimination of neutral oligosaccharides through a nanopore.

Authors :: Bacri L
Oukhaled A
Hémon E
Bassafoula FB
Auvray L
Daniel R
Source :: Biochemical and biophysical research communications [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] 2011 Sep 09; Vol. 412 (4), pp. 561-4. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Aug 04.
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: The detection of oligosaccharides at the single-molecule level was investigated using a protein nanopore device. Neutral oligosaccharides of various molecular weights were translocated through a single α-hemolysin nanopore and their nano-transit recorded at the single-molecule level. The translocation of maltose and dextran oligosaccharides featured by 1→4 and 1→6 glycosidic bonds respectively was studied in an attempt to discriminate oligosaccharides according to their polymerization degree and glycosidic linkages. Oligosaccharides were translocated through a free diffusion regime indicating that they adopted an extended conformation during their translocation in the nanopore. The dwell time increased with molecular mass, suggesting the usefulness of nanopore as a molecular sizing device.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)