Probing single nanometer-scale pores with polymeric molecular rulers.

We previously demonstrated that individual molecules of single-stranded DNA can be driven electrophoretically through a single Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin ion channel. Polynucleotides thread through the channel as extended chains and the polymer-induced ionic current blockades exhibit stable modes during the interactions. We show here that polynucleotides can be used to probe structural features of the alpha-hemolysin channel itself.

Dilute Solution Theory of Polymer Crystal Growth: Fractionation Effects.

A nonequilibrium (kinetic) theory of polymer molecular weight (MW) fractionation is formulated and applied to binary and multicomponent polyethylenes crystallized from unstirred xylene solutions. High MW components crystallize more readily than do low MW components. This fractionation effect is enhanced as the crystallization temperature is raised.