Single molecule analysis of light-regulated RNA:spiropyran interactions

Abstract

The photo-regulated interactions between an RNA aptamer and photochromic spiropyran were investigated at a single-molecule level via an α-hemolysin nanopore. Upon irradiation of alternating UV/visible light, the translocation process of the RNA aptamer could be optically tuned on account of its different binding affinity with two photoisomers, spiropyran and merocyanine. This provides a general analytic model for understanding the mechanism of a photo-regulated biomolecule conformational change at a single-molecule level.