Scheme 1.

Nanopore detection of DNA mutations. If the sample contains mutant DNA, its hybridization with the DNA probe would produce dsDNA with mismatches; and hence, the event signature of the hybridized dsDNA in the nanopore would change significantly in the absence / presence of the nuclease. In contrast, if the sample contains wild-type DNA, its hybridization with the DNA probe would produce completely-matched dsDNA. Thus, addition of the nuclease to the hybridized DNA sample would not affect the event signature.