Wanunu, Meni; Bhattacharya, Swati; Xie, Yun; Tor, Yitzhak; Aksimentiev, Aleksei; Drndic, Marija
Nanopore Analysis of Individual RNA/Antibiotic Complexes
ACS NANO, 5:9345-9353, DEC 2011

Nanopores in thin solid-state membranes are used to rapidly analyze individual RNA/drug complexes. The interactions of a truncated A-site RNA model of the prokaryotic ribosome with aminoglycoside antibiotics are characterized by passing individual molecules through a 3-3.5 nm diameter pore fabricated in a 8-10 nm thick silicon nitride membrane. Complexes of the A-site RNA with aminoglycosides can be distinguished from unbound A-site based on the Ion current signatures produced as they pass through the nanopores. Counting the fraction of free and drug-bound molecules affords label-free drug RNA binding isotherms consistent with literature reports and with data generated using independent fluorescence-based assays. Our measurements are supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which illustrate the relationship between the ionic current and complexation of the A-site RNA with paramomycin, a prototypical aminoglycoside antibiotic.

DOI:10.1021/nn203764j

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