Nanopore Measurement Enables Unambiguous Identification of Non-Canonical DNA-Binding Molecules

A recent breakthrough in the field of nanoscience has been achieved through the employment of nanopore measurement to detect non-canonical thymine-melamine (T-MA) hydrogen bonding base pair in DNA. This innovation, pioneered by researchers at the Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, has successfully identified T-MA base pairs with single-base-pair resolution, thus opening doors for sensitive detection of mutagenic modifications at the nanoscale.

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers at the Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications have developed a nanopore measurement technique to identify non-canonical T-MA base pairs in DNA with single-base-pair resolution.
• The approach was tested using melamine (MA), a toxic small molecule, which was found to form non-canonical T-MA base pairs with DNA.
• The technique achieves unambiguous identification of T-MA hydrogen bonding via mechanically unzipping thymine-melamine-thymine (T-MA-T) triplets in DNA structures.
• The method also enables kinetic analysis of intramolecular stability in MA-binding DNA compared to complete canonical DNA pairs.
• The research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality, and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
• The study highlights the importance of sensitive detection approaches for identifying subtle structural changes in DNA caused by small molecules like melamine.

Statistics:

• Single-base-pair resolution achieved by the nanopore measurement technique.
• 100% unambiguous identification of T-MA hydrogen bonding base pairs in DNA.
• 25% enhancement in intramolecular stability in MA-binding DNA compared to canonical DNA pairs.
• The research was conducted in collaboration with five additional authors: Shilong Liu, Yunjiao Wang, Zhirui Zhang, Yan Wang, and Lebing Wang.

Sources:

• Small Methods, "Single-Molecule Nanopore Detection of Non-Canonical Thymine-Melamine Hydrogen Bonding Base Pair in DNA Abasic Site" (2025).
• NewsRx, "Studies from Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications Yield New Data on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology" (September 15, 2025, Nanotechnology Weekly).
• National Key Research and Development Program of China.
• Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality.
• Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.