Method of DNA analysis using micro/nanochannel

1. A method of analyzing a double-stranded genomic DNA molecule for a sequence structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing a sequence-specific nick at each recognition site on at least one strand of the DNA molecule using a nicking endonuclease under nicking conditions creating a pattern of nicks characteristic of the DNA molecule, wherein the molecule maintains its integrity;

(b) labeling each nicked recognition site with a first label;

(c) labeling a remainder of the DNA molecule with a second label;

(d) elongating the DNA molecule;

(e) passing the labeled DNA molecule into a channel to hold the DNA molecule in an elongated state; and

(f) detecting the first label to identify the pattern of nicks of the DNA molecule revealing the sequence structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nicking endonuclease is Nb.BbvCI.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first label is a fluorescent molecule.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second label is a fluorescent molecule.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluorescent molecule is YOYO-1.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DNA is held in suspension within the channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of repairing endogenous nicks prior to sequence-specifically labeling the genomic DNA molecule.

8. A method of determining a sequence structure of double-stranded genomic DNA comprising the steps of:

(a) marking a body of the genomic DNA molecule suspended in a solution with a fluorescent marker not specific to particular features on the DNA molecule;

(b) marking sequence-specific positions of the genomic DNA molecule with a different fluorescent marker by nick translating the molecule from a sequence-specific nick introduced with a nicking endonuclease that does not catalyze double strand cleavage, wherein the molecule maintains its integrity and wherein the marked sequence-specific positions define a pattern characteristic of the DNA molecule;

(c) elongating the genomic DNA molecule;

(d) exciting the marked DNA molecule with a light source to distinguish a difference in color between the fluorescent markers to reveal the pattern; and

(e) detecting the pattern characteristic of the DNA molecule to determine the sequence structure of the genomic DNA molecule.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fluorescent markers are fluorescence resonance energy transfer markers.

10. A method for sorting individual nucleic acid molecules, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing sequence-specific nick sites into each molecule with a nicking endonuclease that does not catalyze double strand cleavage, wherein the molecule maintains its integrity;

(b) incorporating at the sequence-specific nick sites a label to yield labeled nick sites that mark the nucleic acid molecules and thereby define a pattern characteristic of each marked nucleic acid molecule;

(c) elongating the nucleic acid molecules;

(d) passing the marked nucleic acid molecules into a channel holding the nucleic acid molecules in an elongated state;

(e) correlating the pattern of each marked nucleic acid molecule known nucleic acid sequences;

(f) passing the marked nucleic acid molecules from the channel; and

(g) capturing the marked nucleic acid molecules.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the step of capturing the marked DNA molecule includes the steps of activating a charge-based capture pad.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of conveying analytical information about the marked molecule to a controller and selectively activating the charge-based capture pad depending upon the identity of the marked molecule.