Prof. Demkowicz and Extreme Materials
Prof. Michael Demkowicz was the subject of the 60 Seconds at MIT, from the News Office (Sept. 30, 2009).
Prof. Suresh presents talk on MIT Perspective on Engineering Systems
In June 2009, Prof. Suresh presented a talk as part of the International Engineering Systems Symposium, sponsored by the Engineering Systems Division.
Grad student competes in pool trick shot tournament
Timothy Chin G traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Ultimate Trick Shot Challenge, placing third. Learn more about the competition from The Tech.
Laboratory for Advanced Materials update
The Tech reported on construction progress.
Special Seminar, Dr. Yann Astier, Oct. 1
Talk Best
Dr. Yann Astier
Instituto de Technologia Quimica e Biologica Universidade
Lisbon, Portugal
Thursday, October 1, 2009
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Chipman Room, Building 6 Room 104
Membrane-embedded nanopores are valuable tools to investigate biophysics of single molecule processes in nano-confinements. While synthetic pores can be produced with diameters down to 2 nm, protein nanopores have the unique advantage of offering good reproducibility between single pore experiments. αHL channels have successfully been used to detect variations in nucleic acid sequences, investigate DNA-protein interactions, and follow enzyme processivity. In addition, β-cyclodextrin fitted chiral nanopores have been used to discriminate among the different mononucleotides. Solid-state nanopores do not yet benefit from the same reproducibility and structural precision as protein pores. However, their mechanical robustness, nanometer range diameter precision, and immobility promise an easier integration into sensing technology. We will present a novel method to detect protein complexes by Nanopore Force Spectroscopy. We compare α-hemolysin and 2.5 to 3.2 nm diameter Si3N4 nanopores for the capture and identification of protein complexes tethered to a ssDNA. We show how the electrical force required to maintain a ssDNA through the α -hemolysin protein nanopore and 2.5 to 3.2 nm diameter Si3N4 nanopores varies according to the ‘dumbbell’ like complex tethered to the DNA. A single antibody-antigen binding can be thus detected without labelling the antibody. Finally, the chemically modified artificial nanopores can detect coated gold nanoparticles and reveal their surface properties.
