Date of Award

1-2006

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Computer Science

Department

Computer Science

Major Professor

Winters-Hilt, Stephen

Second Advisor

Chen, Yixin

Abstract

The Nanopore Detector using á-hemolysin channel transcribes kinetics of a single molecule along the nanometer-scale pore. The transcribed data is represented by electrical measurements. We present accurate and computationally inexpensive tools to analyze single molecule kinetics. The HMM-EM level projection method de-noises data, retaining the transitions with very high precision. This approach doesn't require input number of levels. Another advantage is the minimal tuning required. The levels are then identified using Finite State Automata (FSAs). Spike Detector algorithm analyzes spikes characterizing behavior of molecule in pore. No commercial tools available are capable of analyzing spikes in presence of noise. The formulation of HMM-EM, FSAs and Spike Detector together provides a robust method for analysis of channel current data. Application of these methods is described for Vercoutere channel blockade dataset which contains signals of radiated and non-radiated molecules. The tools developed were used successfully to differentiate between these two molecules.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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