Base-by-base ratcheting of dna/rna in a y-shaped nanochannel
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsBinquan Luan, Ruhong Zhou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanism is provided for ratcheting a double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is driven into a Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse. The Y-channel includes a stem and branches, and the branches are connected to the stem at a junction. The double strand molecule is slowed at the junction of the Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is split into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the junction of the Y-channel at a second voltage pulse.
Claims10
A method for ratcheting a double strand molecule, the method comprising:
- driving the double strand molecule into a Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse, the Y-channel includes a stem and branches, the branches being connected to the stem at a junction;
- slowing the double strand molecule at the junction of the Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule;
- and
- splitting the double strand molecule into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the junction of the Y-channel at a second voltage pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.