DNA barcode by flossing through a cylindrical nanopore

Abstract

We report an accurate method to determine DNA barcodes from the dwell time measurement of protein tags (barcodes) along the DNA backbone using Brownian dynamics simulation of a model DNA and use a recursive theoretical scheme which improves the measurements to almost 100% accuracy. The heavier protein tags along the DNA backbone introduce a large speed variation in the chain that can be understood using the idea of non-equilibrium tension propagation theory. However, from an initial rough characterization of velocities into “fast” (nucleotides) and “slow” (protein tags) domains, we introduce a physically motivated interpolation scheme that enables us to determine the barcode velocities rather accurately. Our theoretical analysis of the motion of the DNA through a cylindrical nanopore opens up the possibility of its experimental realization and carries over to multi-nanopore devices used for barcoding.