Nanopore sequencing set to transform our understanding of proteins

A new protein sequencing method, which uses a biological motor to pull a protein through a tiny nanopore, could revolutionise protein analysis. The researchers at the University of Washington have also achieved a significant breakthrough in detecting post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, to full-length protein structures at single molecule resolution.

The human genome has about 20,000 genes, yet researchers have identified 1 million different protein structures, or proteoforms. This diversity arises from genetic mutations and post-translational modifications – such as the addition of chemical groups or carbohydrate chains – that alter protein functions.