A multiscale approach to studying channel dynamics.

Pores and channels are ubiquitous in cell biology. From the nuclear pore complex to cell membrane channels, they play key roles in regulating the cell environment and maintaining function. Most pores are highly specialised, however there are many properties that are predicted to be universal, and simple physical systems which allow us to probe that universality will prove useful due to the difficulty of studying pores in the busy cell environment. The aim of this project is to further develop such experimental model systems for biological pores, with both microscale and nanoscale systems being considered to construct a more comprehensive picture of the dynamics. The microscale component will be using colloidal particles and microfluidic approaches to study particle and polymer transport processes in both sparse and dense environments. The nanoscale component is concerned with using nanopores and DNA-origami to investigate the physical properties of various model pore systems, with specific interest given to the fluctuations of such systems.