Use of a protein nanopore for the detection, identification, quantification and real-time monitoring of microcystins in aqueous systems

Abstract

According to the present invention, there are several methods for detecting microcystins, which have a limited capacity to adequately identify and monitor in real time structural variants of said toxins. The present inventive method and inventive device enable the detection, identification, quantification and real-time monitoring of microcystins in aqueous media. The inventive method is based on the fact that the influx and interaction of microcystins in the aqueous opening of a protein nanopore, formed by alpha-toxin incorporated into a resistive matrix, induces discretized events in the ion current that flows through the nanopore. The temporal series of said events is representative of and correlated with the microcystin structural variant present in the solution contained in one of the conductive reservoirs. The segmental statistical analysis of the temporal series, combining the method of least squares and genetic optimization algorithm, allows real-time discrimination of the microcystin variants. The inventive device consists basically of a nanopore incorporated into a lipid bilayer that separates two conductive reservoirs, wherein the microcystins are placed in one of the reservoirs.