LOGIC DRIVEN POLYNUCLEOTIDE SCANNING FOR MAPPING FEATURES IN A NANOPORE DEVICE

1 - 70 . (canceled)

71 . A method for differential detection of 5-methylcytosines (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC) in a mixed sample containing one or more polynucleotide sequences that separately move through a first and a second pore, the method comprising:

a) labeling 5mC and 5hmC regions of one or more target polynucleotides with a binding moiety;

b) contacting the one or more target polynucleotides with a payload molecule, wherein the payload molecule is configured to bind to the binding moiety of the one or more target polynucleotides;

c) providing a dual-pore, dual-amplifier device for controlling movement of the target polynucleotide bound to the payload molecule through a first and second pore simultaneously, the device comprising:

(i) a first channel, a chamber and a second channel,

(ii) a first pore,

(iii) a second pore;

(iv) a power supply configured to provide a first voltage at the first pore, and to provide a second voltage at the second pore, each voltage being independently adjustable, and

(v) dual-amplifier electronics configured for independent voltage control and current measurement at each pore, wherein the first and second pores are configured so that the target polynucleotide is capable of simultaneously moving across both pores in an either direction, and in a controlled manner,

d) loading the sample containing one or more target polynucleotides into the device;

e) applying an initial first voltage and an initial second voltage so that at least a portion of the one or more target polynucleotides moves through the first pore and the second pore, wherein said first and second voltage induces translocation of the one or more target polynucleotides through the first and second pore separately for each of:

labeled 5mC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences;

labeled 5hmC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences;

f) generating a plurality of event signatures generated by translocation of one or more target polynucleotides through the first and second pore,

g) identifying a quantity of first event signatures associated with labeled 5mC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences and a quantity of second event signatures associated with labeled 5hMC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences to distinguish between 5mC regions and 5hmC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences.

72 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the second pore is fluidically connected to the second channel, the second channel being a geometrically constrained enclosure with a second inlet and a second outlet, and the second pore is fluidically connected to the second channel between the inlet and the outlet.

73 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the method comprises detecting a first set of event signatures on the polynucleotide when the polynucleotide is in both pores.

74 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the initial first voltage creates a voltage gradient across the first pore and along a length of the first channel.

75 . The method of claim 71 , wherein a resistance of the first channel is inversely proportional to a first channel width.

76 . The method of claim 75 , wherein the resistance of the first channel and/or the second channel is proportional to one or more of: a volume of the first channel and/or second channel; a radius of the first channel and/or second channel; and a cross-sectional radius of the first fluidic channel and/or second channel.

77 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the method further comprises controlling, with a controller, when the polynucleotide requires rescanning of one or more features of the polynucleotide for a second or third time.

78 . The method of claim 77 , wherein the controller determines which of the one or more features of the polynucleotide to perform additional recapturing of the one or more features in the first direction and/or the second direction.

79 . The method of claim 71 , wherein a length of the polynucleotide is at least 2 times, at least 3 times, at least 4 times, or at least 5 times a distance between the first pore and the second pore, between the chamber and the first channel, and/or between the chamber and the second channel.

80 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the first voltage is maintained for a time period ranging from 0-1000 miliseconds, 0-20 miliseconds, 20-50 seconds, 50-100 seconds, 100-500 seconds, or 500-1000 seconds.

81 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the first voltage is maintained for a time period after capture and translocation of the target polynucleotide through the first pore.

82 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the method further comprises determining positions of one or more 5mC or 5hmC on the one or more target polynucleotides.

83 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the binding moiety is a 5mC or 5hmC binding moiety.

84 . The method of claim 71 , wherein:

the payload in the 5mC region is a methyl-binding protein MeCP2,

the payload in the 5hmC region is an electronically detectable moiety containing alkenes, and

wherein a plurality of first event signatures associated with labeled 5mC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences and a plurality of second event signatures associated with labeled 5hMC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences are associated with size difference of the payload in the 5mC region and the payload in the 5hmC region.

85 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the plurality of first event signatures associated with labeled 5mC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences is characterized by a current reduction greater than the plurality of second event signatures associated with labeled 5hMC regions on one or more polynucleotide sequences by at least 15% under identical nanopore bias conditions.

86 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the mixed sample further comprises a buffer, wherein the buffer is selected from an electrolyte, a pH buffer, a chelator, and a combination thereof.

87 . The method of claim 71 , wherein a diameter of the first pore and a diameter of the second pore is from 5 nm to 50 nm, from 10 nm to 40 nm, or from 15 nm to 30 nm.

88 . The method of claim 74 , wherein the voltage gradient is sufficient to translocate the polynucleotide in a consistent direction through a sensing region.

89 . The method of claim 76 , wherein the resistance of the first channel and/or the second channel is proportional to a length of the first channel and/or second channel and a cross-sectional area of the first channel and/or second channel.

90 . A method for determining a sequence of a target polynucleotide, the method comprising steps of:

a) providing a dual-pore, dual-amplifier device for controlling a movement of the target polynucleotide through a first and second pore simultaneously, the device comprising:

(i) a first pore,

(ii) a second pore;

(iii) a power supply configured to provide a first voltage in the first pore, and to provide a second voltage in the second pore, each voltage being independently adjustable, and

(iv) dual-amplifier electronics configured for independent voltage control and current measurement at each pore, wherein the first and second pores are configured so that the target polynucleotide is capable of simultaneously moving across both pores in a first direction or a second direction, and in a controlled manner,

b) loading the target polynucleotide into the device;

c) setting an initial first voltage in the first pore and an initial second voltage in the second pore so that at least a portion of the target polynucleotide moves through the first pore and the second pore in the first direction, wherein the first direction being from the first pore to the second pore;

d) scanning for one or more primers hybridized to the target polynucleotide;

e) detecting, in a first cycle, a first set of primers when the target polynucleotide is in both pores in the first direction;

f) re-scanning for the one or more primers hybridized to the target polynucleotide;

g) when the first set of primers are detected in the first cycle in the first direction, adjusting the first voltage, the second voltage, or both, to the first and second pore to change the direction of the target polynucleotide so that at least a portion of the target polynucleotide moves from the second pore to the first pore in the second direction,

h) detecting, in the first cycle, a presence of the second set of primers when the target polynucleotide is in both pores simultaneously in the second direction;

i) identifying each nucleotide of the polynucleotide that passes through one of the pores, by measuring an ionic current across the pore when the nucleotide passes that pore; and

j) repeating steps c) through i) to detect a third and fourth set of primers, in a second cycle.