Recognizing a Single Base in an Individual DNA Strand: A Step Toward DNA Sequencing in Nanopores

The capture of single strands of DNA inside the α‐hemolysin (α‐HL) transmembrane pore protein upon application of a positive potential leads to single α‐HL⋅DNA pseudorotaxane species (see picture). By monitoring the characteristic decreases in the ion conductance of α‐HL, a single adenine nucleotide can be identified at a specific location on a strand of DNA.