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We have engineered many variants of the a-hemolysin protein pore for single molecule detection (stochastic sensing), which is effected by monitoring the modulation of an ionic current passing through a single pore. Stochastic sensing allows the analysis of a wide variety of analytes: metal cations, small organic molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, &c.

The spin-out company from the Bayley laboratory, Oxford Nanopore, has used this technology to sequence single molecules of DNA and RNA (https://www.nanoporetech.com/).

Following the success of Oxford Nanopore's MinION sequencer, we have redirected our efforts towards protein characterization, in particular the detection of post-translational modifications and alternative splicing.

Critical issues include the ability to unfold proteins before or during translocation and the means to translocate polypeptides with a low density of heterogeneously distributed charged side chains.