Single molecule branch structure analysis of glycopolymers using nanopore

利用纳米孔、纳米级库尔特计数器研制了单分子多糖和多糖的支链结构分析系统。聚电解质多糖通过薄膜上的小孔移动，其大小与分子的直径相当，诱导对应于每个分子的脉冲状电流变化信号。对于多糖，观察到电流脉冲，归因于每个线性多糖分子的移位。结果表明，在横截面上的分辨率足以分辨出单分子中的一个葡萄糖单元，并获得了支链结构信息。这种分析技术不仅适用于多聚糖，而且适用于更广泛的支化聚合物。

An analysis system for branch structure of single molecule glycan and polysaccharide was developed using a nanopore, nano-scale version of Coulter counter. Translocation of polyelectrolyte glycans through a small pore fabricated on thin membrane, whose size is comparable to the diameter to the molecule, induces a pulse-shaped current change signal corresponding to each molecule. Current pulses, ascribed to the translocation of each linear polysaccharide molecule, were observed for polysaccharides. It was shown that the resolution in the cross-sectional area is high enough to distinguish of one glucose unit in the single molecule, and branch structure information was obtained. This analysis technique is promising not only for glycans but also for branched polymer in more general.