Nanopore sequencing

On the left is a drawing of the complex formed between alpha-hemolysin and dsDNA with linkage through an oligomer. On the right, movement of this complex in relation to a nanopore channel is shown sequentially in two steps (I) and (II). Once the complex is inserted into the nanopore, the alpha-hemolysin protein will be functional in the newly formed hybrid, biological and solid state, nanopore system.

Illustration of how an electrical signal is generated from DNA passing through a nanopore channel.

Nanopore sequencing is a third generation approach used in the sequencing of biopolymers — specifically, polynucleotides in the form of DNA or RNA.

Nanopore sequencing allows a single molecule of DNA or RNA be sequenced without PCR amplification or chemical labeling. Nanopore sequencing has the potential to offer relatively low-cost genotyping, high mobility for testing, and rapid processing of samples, including the ability to display real-time results. It has been proposed for rapid identification of viral pathogens, monitoring ebola, environmental monitoring, food safety monitoring, human genome sequencing, plant genome sequencing, monitoring of antibiotic resistance, haplotyping and other applications.