On the many ways to translocate through nanopores: from DNA to proteins and viruses - Fabien Montel (ENS Lyon)

The transport of biomolecules in confined environments occurs every millisecond at the heart of our cells. A prominent example is the transport through biological nanopores, which enable the exchange of matter between the different cell compartments, and are both the main access routes for cellular organelles and the guardians of a specific molecular flow.

In previous years, we have developed bottom-up approaches to monitor the transport of biomolecules in synthetic nanopores that mimic their biological counterparts [1]. Depending on the type of molecule being transported (DNA, synthetic polymers, proteins, viruses), we have been able to identify the physical phenomena that control transport in each case [2-7]. For example, confinement entropy for nucleic acids [2-4] and binding between transported objects for viruses [6,7].

During this presentation I will focus on the recent results on the directionality of transport in the nuclear pore complex [3]. I will also present how a jamming transition may appears when viruses are confined in nanopores [7]. Finally, I will discuss the trade off between selectivity and flux observed for the transport of proteins.

[1] Quelques éléments de physique autour des nanopores biologiques. Molcrette B, Chazot-Franguiadakis L, Auger T and Montel F*. Reflets de la Physique 2023, Vol. 75, p18

[2] Zero-mode waveguide detection of flow-driven DNA translocation through nanopores. Auger T, Mathé J, Viasnoff V, Charron G, Di Meglio JM, Auvray L, Montel F. Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Jul 11;113(2):028302.

[3] Experimental study of a nanoscale translocation ratchet. Molcrette B, Chazot-Franguiadakis L, Liénard F, Balassy Z, Freton C, Grangeasse C, and Montel F*. PNAS 2022, 119 (30) e2202527119

[4] Thermally switchable nanogate based on polymer phase transition Kolbeck PJ, Benaoudia D, Chazot-Franguiadakis L, Delecourt G, Mathé J, Li S, Bonnet R, Martin P, Lipfert J, Salvetti A, Boukhet M, Bennevault V, Lacroix JC, Guégan P and Montel F*. NanoLetters 2023, 23, 11, 4862–4869

[5] Optical single molecule characterisation of natural and synthetic polymers through nanopores de Blois C., Engel M., Rejou M.A., Molcrette B., Favier A., Montel F. Nanoscale 2024,16, 138-151

[6] Optical Quantification by Nanopores of Viruses, Extracellular Vesicles and Nanoparticles. Chazot-Franguiadakis L, Eid J, Socol M, Molcrette B, Guégan P, Mougel M, Salvetti A, and Montel F*. NanoLetters 2022, 22, 9, 3651–3658

[7] Soft jamming of viral particles in nanopores. Chazot-Franguiadakis L., Eid J., Delecourt G., Kolbeck P., Brugere S., Molcrette B., Socol M., Mougel M., Salvetti A., Demery V., Lacroix J.C., Bennevault V., Guegan P., Castelnovo M. and Montel F., Nature Communications 15, 6180 (2024)

Contact: Aurélie Dupont