Thesis presented January 21, 2016

Abstract:
So as to facilitate genomic sequencing, a third generation of sequencing devices is needed. Biopolymer translocation is the key phenomenon involved in nanopore sequencing prospects. We investigated this phenomenon through both theoretical and numerical approaches. Our work started with devicing a coarse grained structured polymer (with a DNA like structure) adapted to a molecular dynamics study. Once we have verified the reliability of our model towards statistical polymer physics, we focused on translocation. We reinvestigated the common case of a nanopore within a fix membrane and proposed a theoretical model for translocation under a pulling force. The arrival of thin membranes is key to an eventual success of non destructive sequencing with a nanopore. This enables new interactions with the membrane which have not been investigated yet. We provide the first large scale numerical investigation of such interactions. our results provide an insight over the influence of membrane vibrations, deformability and flexibility.

Keywords:
Statistical physics, Translocation, Numerical study

On-line thesis.