Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of ferritin cores with varying composition and degrees of structural order: models for iron oxide deposits in iron-overload diseases

Uncovering a possible role of reactive oxygen species in magnetogenetics

Recent reports have shown that intracellular, (super)paramagnetic ferritin nanoparticles can gate TRPV1, a non-selective cation channel, in a magnetic field. Here, we report the effects of differing field strength and frequency as well as chemical inhibitors on channel gating using a Ca2+-sensitive promoter to express a secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter. Exposure of TRPV1-ferritin-expressing HEK-293T cells at 30 °C to an alternating magnetic field of 501 kHz and 27.1 mT significantly increased SEAP secretion by ~ 82% relative to control cells, with lesser effects at other field strengths and frequencies. Between 30-32 °C, SEAP production was strongly potentiated 3.3-fold by the addition of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin. This potentiation was eliminated by the competitive antagonist AMG-21629, the NADPH oxidase assembly inhibitor apocynin, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that ROS contributes to magnetogenetic TRPV1 activation. These results provide a rational basis to address the heretofore unknown mechanism of magnetogenetics.

On the mineral core of ferritin-like proteins: structural and magnetic characterization

It is generally accepted that the mineral core synthesized by ferritin-like proteins consists of a ferric oxy-hydroxide mineral similar to ferrihydrite in the case of horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and an oxy-hydroxide-phosphate phase in plant and prokaryotic ferritins. The structure reflects a dynamic process of deposition and dissolution, influenced by different biological, chemical and physical variables. In this work we shed light on this matter by combining a structural (High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Fe K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)) and a magnetic study of the mineral core biomineralized by horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and three prokaryotic ferritin-like proteins: bacterial ferritin (FtnA) and bacterioferritin (Bfr) from Escherichia coli and archaeal ferritin (PfFtn) from Pyrococcus furiosus. The prokaryotic ferritin-like proteins have been studied under native conditions and inside the cells for the sake of preserving their natural attributes. They share with HoSF a nanocrystalline structure rather than an amorphous one as has been frequently reported. However, the presence of phosphorus changes drastically the short-range order and magnetic response of the prokaryotic cores with respect to HoSF. The superparamagnetism observed in HoSF is absent in the prokaryotic proteins, which show a pure atomic-like paramagnetic behaviour attributed to phosphorus breaking the Fe-Fe exchange interaction.

MR characterization of hepatic storage iron in transfusional iron overload

PURPOSE

To quantify the two principal forms of hepatic storage iron, diffuse, soluble iron (primarily ferritin), and aggregated, insoluble iron (primarily hemosiderin) using a new MRI method in patients with transfusional iron overload.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six healthy volunteers and 20 patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia syndromes and iron overload were examined. Ferritin- and hemosiderin-like iron were determined based on the measurement of two distinct relaxation parameters: the "reduced" transverse relaxation rate, RR2 , and the "aggregation index," A, using three sets of Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) datasets with different interecho spacings. Agarose phantoms, simulating the relaxation and susceptibility properties of tissue with different concentrations of dispersed (ferritin-like) and aggregated (hemosiderin-like) iron, were used for validation.

RESULTS

Both phantom and in vivo human data confirmed that transverse relaxation components associated with the dispersed and aggregated iron could be separated using the two-parameter (RR2 , A) method. The MRI-determined total hepatic storage iron was highly correlated (r = 0.95) with measurements derived from biopsy or biosusceptometry. As total hepatic storage iron increased, the proportion stored as aggregated iron became greater.

CONCLUSION

This method provides a new means for noninvasive MRI determination of the partition of hepatic storage iron between ferritin and hemosiderin in iron overload disorders.

Molecular imaging of in vivo gene expression

Molecular imaging provides spatial and temporal information on cellular changes that occur during development and in disease. MRI and optical imaging of reporter genes allows for the visualization of promoter activity, protein-protein interactions, protein stability and the tracking of individual proteins and cells. Reporter genes can be genetically encoded in transgenic animals or detected through the administration of an exogenous contrast agent. Advances in molecular imaging of reporter genes have led to the development of imaging probes that detect changes in endogenous cellular changes. The ability to use contrast agents coupled with functional information on cellular events will allow for sensitive assessment of individual patient therapies, leading to an accurately tailored treatment regimen.

Linear and nonlinear magneto-optics of ferritin

Measurements of Rayleigh light scattering and Cotton-Mouton (CM) effect are carried out at room temperature for 100 mM NaCl solutions of apoferritin/ferritin loaded with 0, 90, 100, 500, 700, and 1500 Fe atoms/molecule. Because of the spherical shape, ferritin macromolecule should not manifest magnetic anisotropy; however, in solution it shows the induced magnetic birefringence (CM effect) and changes in intensity of the scattered light components. The newly obtained data support the previously reported conclusions indicating that the deformation of linear optical polarizability induced in the ferritin by a magnetic field and the orientation of the induced magnetic dipole moment by this field are the main sources of the magneto-optical phenomena observed. Nevertheless, it is also found that the orientation of the permanent magnetic dipole moment contributes to both effects. The magnetic field induced changes in the light scattering and the CM effect theoretically depend on the linear magneto-optical polarizability, chi, on the nonlinear magneto-optical polarizability, eta, and square of the permanent magnetic dipole moment value of the macromolecule, mu(2). On the basis of the theory describing both effects as well as the experimental data, the values of the anisotropy of linear magneto-optical polarizabilities components, the values of the linear optical polarizability and its anisotropy, nonlinear magneto-optical polarizability and its anisotropy, are estimated. Also the magnetic dipole moment of the ferritin macromolecule is found. Interestingly, not all iron atoms in the ferritin are indicated to be in the superparamagnetic state, some of them occur in the diamagnetic form.

Size-tuneable and micro-patterned iron nanoparticles derived from biomolecules via microcontact printing SAM-modified substrates and controlled-potential electrolyses

Site-selected and size-controlled iron nanoparticles were prepared on coplanar surfaces via microcontact printing of SAM-modified Au/mica electrodes and controlled-potential electrolytic reactions using ferritin biomolecules. Ferritin molecules packed like a full monolayer on 6-amino-1-hexanethiol (AHT)- and 11-amino-1-undecanethiol (AUT)-modified Au/mica surface via electrostatic interactions, which did not depend on the chain length of the amino terminal alkane thiols. After heat-treatment at 400 degrees C for 60 min, iron oxide nanoparticles (ca. 5 nm in diameter) derived from ferritin cores were observed at the Au/mica surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM). On the study on the electrochemistry of ferritin immobilized onto AHT- and AUT-modified Au/mica electrodes, the redox response of the ferritin immobilized AHT-modified electrode was clearly observed. On the other hand, no redox peak for ferritin was obtained at the AUT-modified electrode. The electron transfer between ferritin and the electrode through the AUT membrane could not take place. The difference in the electrochemical response of ferritin immobilized onto AHT- and AUT-modified Au/mica was caused by the chain length of the amino terminal alkane thiols. Uniform patterns of AHT and AUT on the Au/mica electrode surface were performed by use of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. After the immobilization of ferritin onto both AHT- and AUT-modified electrode surfaces, the modified electrode was applied to a -0.5 V potential for 30 min in a phosphate buffer solution. After this procedure, the PDMS stamp patterning image appeared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image. The SEM results induced by the size change of the ferritin core consisting of iron(III) by electrolysis.

Size control for two-dimensional iron oxide nanodots derived from biological molecules

We demonstrated the fabrication of size-controlled two-dimensional iron oxide nanodots derived from the heat treatment of ferritin molecules self-immobilized on modified silicon surfaces. Ferritin molecules were immobilized onto 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APMS)-modified silicon surfaces by electrostatic interactions between negatively charged amino acids of ferritin molecules and amino terminal functional groups of 3-APMS. Heat treatments were performed at 400 degrees C for 60 min to fabricate two-dimensional nanodots based on ferritin cores. XPS and FT-IR results clearly indicate that ferritin shells were composed of amino acids and 3-APMS modifiers on silicon surfaces were eliminated by heat treatment. Nanodots on substrate surfaces corresponded to iron oxides. The size of nanodots was tunable in the range of 0-5 (+/-0.75) nm by in situ reactions of iron ion chelators with ferritin molecules immobilized on substrates before heat treatment.

In Situ Generation of Carboxylate: An Efficient Strategy for a One-Pot Synthesis of Homo- and Heterometallic Polynuclear Complexes

An efficient strategy for synthesis of a wide range of homo- and heterometallic polynuclear complexes is proposed. The synthesis protocol consists of a two-step one-pot reaction. The first step is the in situ generation of carboxylate anions via oxidation of aromatic aldehydes by metal nitrates in air. The aldehydes act as solvents and are also involved in redox processes. Solutions containing solely transition metal cations and aromatic carboxylates are obtained following this procedure. The second step is a tunable "à la carte" formation of a series of various polynuclear carboxylato complexes from solutions obtained at the former stage upon addition of different solvents. The polarity and donor properties of the solvents play a key role in determination of the nuclearities of the complexes. Hydrolytic processes can induce the formation of oxo- or hydroxo-bridges inside the polynuclear core as well. Complexes of various nuclearities are obtained: from discrete tri-, hexa-, or octanuclear units to 1D polymers. This protocol can be adapted with disconcerting simplicity to the synthesis of heterometallic species with similar molecular structures to their homometallic analogues starting from stoichiometric mixture of metal nitrates under the same reaction conditions. Detailed description of synthesis and the molecular structure of one representative complex for each series are presented in this paper. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of the heterometallic 1-D MnCo chain reveals typical behavior of a ferrimagnetic chain. The low-temperature investigations on single crystals show significant Ising type magnetic anisotropy.

Ferromagnetic resonance of horse spleen ferritin: core blocking and surface ordering temperatures

In nature, ferritin, an iron-storage molecule, is found in species ranging from bacteria to man. In the past 50 years its chemical, physical, and magnetic properties have been studied, searching to relate function and structure. Horse spleen ferritin has been investigated by EPR at temperatures between 7 and 290 K. These spectra change from an isotropic line at 290 K to an anisotropic one at 19 K, with a behavior consistent with a system of particles that undergoes superparamagnetic relaxation. A blocking temperature of (116+/-9) K is obtained. A new temperature-dependent signal is observed in the low field region at temperatures higher than 80 K. At 7 K no EPR signal appears, suggesting (14+/-5) K as the Néel temperature of surface spins. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the distance between EPR lines extrema, under the view of two theoretical models, allowed the evaluation of magnetic parameters. These parameters are 2K/M=2.7 x 10(3) Oe and MV=1.9 x 10(-17) emu or K/M=1.3 x 10(3) Oe and MV=2.0 x 10(-17) emu, where K is the anisotropy energy per unit volume, M is the sample magnetization, and V is the superparamagnetic core volume. The results are also discussed, and some structural models in the literature are considered.

Forming the phosphate layer in reconstituted horse spleen ferritin and the role of phosphate in promoting core surface redox reactions

Apo horse spleen ferritin (apo HoSF) was reconstituted to various core sizes (100-3500 Fe3+/HoSF) by depositing Fe(OH)3 within the hollow HoSF interior by air oxidation of Fe2+. Fe2+ and phosphate (Pi) were then added anaerobically at a 1:4 ratio, and both Fe2+ and Pi were incorporated into the HoSF cores. The resulting Pi layer consisted of Fe2+ and Pi at about a 1:3 ratio which is strongly attached to the reconstituted ferritin mineral core surface and is stable even after air oxidation of the bound Fe2+. The total amount of Fe2+ and Pi bound to the iron core surface increases as the core volume increases up to a maximum near 2500 iron atoms, above which the size of the Pi layer decreases with increasing core size. Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements of the Pi-reconstituted HoSF cores using 57Fe2+ show that 57Fe3+ is the major species present under anaerobic conditions. This result suggests that the incoming 57Fe2+ undergoes an internal redox reaction to form 57Fe3+ during the formation of the Pi layer. Addition of bipyridine removes the 57Fe3+ bound in the Pi layer as [57Fe(bipy)3]2+, showing that the bound 57Fe2+ has not undergone irreversible oxidation. This result is related to previous studies showing that 57Fe2+ bound to native core is reversibly oxidized under anaerobic conditions in native holo bacterial and HoSF ferritins. Attempts to bury the Pi layer of native or reconstituted HoSF by adding 1000 additional iron atoms were not successful, suggesting that after its formation, the Pi layer "floats" on the developing iron mineral core.