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Simultaneous stochastic sensing of divalent metal ions

Nature Biotechnology volume 18, pages 1005–1007 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Stochastic sensing is an emerging analytical technique that relies upon single-molecule detection. Transmembrane pores, into which binding sites for analytes have been placed by genetic engineering, have been developed as stochastic sensing elements1,2,3. Reversible occupation of an engineered binding site modulates the ionic current passing through a pore in a transmembrane potential and thereby provides both the concentration of an analyte and, through a characteristic signature, its identity1,2,3. Here, we show that the concentrations of two or more divalent metal ions in solution can be determined simultaneously with a single sensor element. Further, the sensor element can be permanently calibrated without a detailed understanding of the kinetics of interaction of the metal ions with the engineered pore.

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Figure 1: Simultaneous stochastic sensing of several metal ions with an engineered protein pore.
Figure 2: Analysis of signals from binary mixtures of M(II) analytes.
Figure 3: A plot of PP·M/PP versus free Zn(II) concentration.
Figure 4: Current recorded in the presence of Zn(II), Co(II), and Cd(II).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Defense Research Projects Agency, the Department of Energy and the Office of Naval Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biochemistry & Genetics, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College Station, 77843-1114, TX

    Orit Braha, Li-Qun Gu, Xiaofeng Lu, Stephen Cheley & Hagan Bayley

  2. Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843-3225, TX

    Li Zhou & Hagan Bayley

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  1. Orit Braha
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  2. Li-Qun Gu
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  4. Xiaofeng Lu
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Correspondence to Orit Braha.

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Braha, O., Gu, LQ., Zhou, L. et al. Simultaneous stochastic sensing of divalent metal ions. Nat Biotechnol 18, 1005–1007 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/79275

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