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Labra-Muñoz JA, de Reuver A, Koeleman F, Huber M, van der Zant HSJ. Ferritin-Based Single-Electron Devices. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050705. [PMID: 35625632 PMCID: PMC9138424 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on the fabrication of single-electron devices based on horse-spleen ferritin particles. At low temperatures the current vs. voltage characteristics are stable, enabling the acquisition of reproducible data that establishes the Coulomb blockade as the main transport mechanism through them. Excellent agreement between the experimental data and the Coulomb blockade theory is demonstrated. Single-electron charge transport in ferritin, thus, establishes a route for further characterization of their, e.g., magnetic, properties down to the single-particle level, with prospects for electronic and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A. Labra-Muñoz
- Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands; (A.d.R.); (F.K.)
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.-M.); (H.S.J.v.d.Z.)
| | - Arie de Reuver
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands; (A.d.R.); (F.K.)
| | - Friso Koeleman
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands; (A.d.R.); (F.K.)
| | - Martina Huber
- Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Herre S. J. van der Zant
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands; (A.d.R.); (F.K.)
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.-M.); (H.S.J.v.d.Z.)
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2
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Adamson LSR, Tasneem N, Andreas MP, Close W, Jenner EN, Szyszka TN, Young R, Cheah LC, Norman A, MacDermott-Opeskin HI, O'Mara ML, Sainsbury F, Giessen TW, Lau YH. Pore structure controls stability and molecular flux in engineered protein cages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022. [PMID: 35119930 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.27.428512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein cages are a common architectural motif used by living organisms to compartmentalize and control biochemical reactions. While engineered protein cages have featured in the construction of nanoreactors and synthetic organelles, relatively little is known about the underlying molecular parameters that govern stability and flux through their pores. In this work, we systematically designed 24 variants of the Thermotoga maritima encapsulin cage, featuring pores of different sizes and charges. Twelve pore variants were successfully assembled and purified, including eight designs with exceptional thermal stability. While negatively charged mutations were better tolerated, we were able to form stable assemblies covering a full range of pore sizes and charges, as observed in seven new cryo-EM structures at 2.5- to 3.6-Å resolution. Molecular dynamics simulations and stopped-flow experiments revealed the importance of considering both pore size and charge, together with flexibility and rate-determining steps, when designing protein cages for controlling molecular flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan S R Adamson
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Nuren Tasneem
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael P Andreas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - William Close
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Eric N Jenner
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Taylor N Szyszka
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Reginald Young
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Li Chen Cheah
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander Norman
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Megan L O'Mara
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Tobias W Giessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu Heng Lau
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Campderdown, NSW 2006, Australia
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3
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Adamson LSR, Tasneem N, Andreas MP, Close W, Jenner EN, Szyszka TN, Young R, Cheah LC, Norman A, MacDermott-Opeskin HI, O’Mara ML, Sainsbury F, Giessen TW, Lau YH. Pore structure controls stability and molecular flux in engineered protein cages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl7346. [PMID: 35119930 PMCID: PMC8816334 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Protein cages are a common architectural motif used by living organisms to compartmentalize and control biochemical reactions. While engineered protein cages have featured in the construction of nanoreactors and synthetic organelles, relatively little is known about the underlying molecular parameters that govern stability and flux through their pores. In this work, we systematically designed 24 variants of the Thermotoga maritima encapsulin cage, featuring pores of different sizes and charges. Twelve pore variants were successfully assembled and purified, including eight designs with exceptional thermal stability. While negatively charged mutations were better tolerated, we were able to form stable assemblies covering a full range of pore sizes and charges, as observed in seven new cryo-EM structures at 2.5- to 3.6-Å resolution. Molecular dynamics simulations and stopped-flow experiments revealed the importance of considering both pore size and charge, together with flexibility and rate-determining steps, when designing protein cages for controlling molecular flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan S. R. Adamson
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Nuren Tasneem
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael P. Andreas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - William Close
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Eric N. Jenner
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Taylor N. Szyszka
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Reginald Young
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Li Chen Cheah
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander Norman
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Megan L. O’Mara
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Tobias W. Giessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Corresponding author. (T.W.G.); (Y.H.L.)
| | - Yu Heng Lau
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Campderdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Corresponding author. (T.W.G.); (Y.H.L.)
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Peng X, Lu C, Liu Z, Lu D. The synergistic mechanisms of apo-ferritin structural transitions and Au(iii) ion transportation: molecular dynamics simulations with the Markov state model. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:17158-17165. [PMID: 34318824 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp01828k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Due to its unique structure, recent years have witnessed the use of apo-ferritin to accumulate various non-natural metal ions as a scaffold for nanomaterial synthesis. However, the transport mechanism of metal ions into the cavity of apo-ferritin is still unclear, limiting the rational design and controllable preparation of nanomaterials. Here, we conducted all-atom classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with Markov state models (MSMs) to explore the transportation behavior of Au(iii) ions. We exhibited the complete transportation paths of Au(iii) from solution into the apo-ferritin cage at the atomic level. We also revealed that the transportation of Au(iii) ions is accompanied by coupled protein structural changes. It is shown that the 3-fold axis channel serves as the only entrance with the longest residence time of Au(iii) ions. Besides, there are eight binding clusters and five 3-fold structural metastable states, which are important during Au(iii) transportation. The conformational changes of His118, Asp127, and Glu130, acting as doors, were observed to highly correlate with the Au(iii) ion's position. The MSM analysis and Potential Mean Force (PMF) calculation suggest a remarkable energy barrier near Glu130, making it the rate-limiting step of the whole process. The dominant transportation pathway is from cluster 3 in the 3-fold channel to the inner cavity to cluster 5 on the inner surface, and then to cluster 6. These findings provide inspiration and theoretical guidance for the further rational design and preparation of new nanomaterials using apo-ferritin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Peng
- State Key Lab of Chemical Engineering, Ministry of Science and Technology; Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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5
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Zhang N, Yu X, Xie J, Xu H. New Insights into the Role of Ferritin in Iron Homeostasis and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2812-2823. [PMID: 33507490 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02277-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence has indicated that iron deposition is one of the key factors leading to neuronal death in the neurodegenerative diseases. Ferritin is a hollow iron storage protein composed of 24 subunits of two types, ferritin heavy chain (FTH) and ferritin light chain (FTL), which plays an important role in maintaining iron homeostasis. Recently, the discovery of extracellular ferritin and ferritin in exosomes indicates that ferritin might be not only an iron storage protein within the cell, but might also be an important factor in the regulation of tissue and body iron homeostasis. In this review, we first described the structural characteristics, regulation and the physiological functions of ferritin. Secondly, we reviewed the current evidence concerning the mechanisms underlying the secretion of ferritin and the possible role of secreted ferritin in the brain. Then, we summarized the relationship between ferritin and the neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neuroferritinopathy (NF). Given the importance and relationship between iron and neurodegenerative diseases, understanding the role of ferritin in the brain can be expected to contribute to our knowledge of iron dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.,Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiaoqi Yu
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.,Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Junxia Xie
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China. .,Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Huamin Xu
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China. .,Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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6
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Chen P, De Meulenaere E, Deheyn DD, Bandaru PR. Iron redox pathway revealed in ferritin via electron transfer analysis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4033. [PMID: 32132578 PMCID: PMC7055317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritin protein is involved in biological tissues in the storage and management of iron - an essential micro-nutrient in the majority of living systems. While there are extensive studies on iron-loaded ferritin, its functionality in iron delivery is not completely clear. Here, for the first time, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been successfully adapted to address the challenge of resolving a cascade of fast and co-occurring redox steps in enzymatic systems such as ferritin. Using DPV, comparative analysis of ferritins from two evolutionary-distant organisms has allowed us to propose a stepwise resolution for the complex mix of concurrent redox steps that is inherent to ferritins and to fine-tune the structure-function relationship of each redox step. Indeed, the cyclic conversion between Fe3+ and Fe2+ as well as the different oxidative steps of the various ferroxidase centers already known in ferritins were successfully discriminated, bringing new evidence that both the 3-fold and 4-fold channels can be functional in ferritin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Evelien De Meulenaere
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Dimitri D Deheyn
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Prabhakar R Bandaru
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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7
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Maity B, Li Z, Niwase K, Ganser C, Furuta T, Uchihashi T, Lu D, Ueno T. Single-molecule level dynamic observation of disassembly of the apo-ferritin cage in solution. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:18562-18572. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp02069a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The 24-mer iron-storage protein, ferritin cage assembly plays important role in nanomaterials synthesis and drug delivery. Herein we explored the disassembly process of the cage by high-speed AFM in combination with all-atom MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basudev Maity
- Department of Life Science and Technology
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8501
- Japan
| | - Zhipeng Li
- Department of Life Science and Technology
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8501
- Japan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis
| | - Kento Niwase
- Department of Life Science and Technology
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8501
- Japan
| | - Christian Ganser
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS)
- National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Okazaki
- Japan
| | - Tadaomi Furuta
- Department of Life Science and Technology
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8501
- Japan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS)
- National Institutes of Natural Sciences
- Okazaki
- Japan
- Department of Physics
| | - Diannan Lu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Tsinghua University
- Beijing 100084
- China
| | - Takafumi Ueno
- Department of Life Science and Technology
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8501
- Japan
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Parida A, Mohanty A, Kansara BT, Behera RK. Impact of Phosphate on Iron Mineralization and Mobilization in Nonheme Bacterioferritin B from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Inorg Chem 2019; 59:629-641. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akankshika Parida
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Abhinav Mohanty
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Bharat T. Kansara
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Rabindra K. Behera
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
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9
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Maity B, Hishikawa Y, Lu D, Ueno T. Recent progresses in the accumulation of metal ions into the apo-ferritin cage: Experimental and theoretical perspectives. Polyhedron 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2019.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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10
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Pokhrel R, Pavadai E, Gerstman BS, Chapagain PP. Membrane pore formation and ion selectivity of the Ebola virus delta peptide. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:5578-5585. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp07323f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Ebola virus delta peptide homo-oligomerizes in the host cell membrane to form amphipathic pores that alter the membrane properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bernard S. Gerstman
- Department of Physics
- Miami
- USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute Florida International University
- Miami
| | - Prem P. Chapagain
- Department of Physics
- Miami
- USA
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute Florida International University
- Miami
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11
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Chandramouli B, Del Galdo S, Mancini G, Barone V. Mechanistic insights into metal ions transit through threefold ferritin channel. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:472-480. [PMID: 30496786 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mechanism of how the hydrophilic threefold channel (C3) of ferritin nanocages facilitates diffusion of diverse metal ions into the internal cavity remains poorly explored. METHODS Computational modeling and free energy estimations were carried out on R. catesbeiana H´ ferritin. Transit features and associated energetics for Fe2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ ions through the C3 channel have been examined. RESULTS We highlight that iron conduction requires the involvement of two Fe2+ ions in the channel. In such doubly occupied configuration, as observed in X-ray structures, Fe2+ is displaced from the internal site (stabilized by D127) at lower energetic cost. Moreover, comparison of Fe2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ transit features shows that E130 geometric constriction provides not only an electrostatic anchor to the incoming ions but also differentially influence their diffusion kinetics. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the study provides insights into Fe2+ entry mechanism and characteristic features of metal-protein interactions that influence the metal ions passage. The dynamics data suggest that E130 may act as a metal selectivity gate. This implicates an ion-specific entry mechanism through the channel with the distinct diffusion kinetics being the discriminating factor. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Ferritin nanocages not only act as biological iron reservoirs but also have gained importance in material science as template scaffolds for synthesizing metal nanoparticles. This study provides mechanistic understanding on the conduction of different metal ions through the channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasubramanian Chandramouli
- Compunet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy; Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, I-56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Sara Del Galdo
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, I-56126 Pisa, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici (ICCOMCNR), UOS di Pisa, Area della Ricerca CNR, Via G. Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giordano Mancini
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, I-56126 Pisa, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) sezione di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barone
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, I-56126 Pisa, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) sezione di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
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12
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Behera RK, Torres R, Tosha T, Bradley JM, Goulding CW, Theil EC. Fe(2+) substrate transport through ferritin protein cage ion channels influences enzyme activity and biomineralization. J Biol Inorg Chem 2015. [PMID: 26202907 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-015-1279-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Ferritins, complex protein nanocages, form internal iron-oxy minerals (Fe2O3·H2O), by moving cytoplasmic Fe(2+) through intracage ion channels to cage-embedded enzyme (2Fe(2+)/O2 oxidoreductase) sites where ferritin biomineralization is initiated. The products of ferritin enzyme activity are diferric oxy complexes that are mineral precursors. Conserved, carboxylate amino acid side chains of D127 from each of three cage subunits project into ferritin ion channels near the interior ion channel exits and, thus, could direct Fe(2+) movement to the internal enzyme sites. Ferritin D127E was designed and analyzed to probe properties of ion channel size and carboxylate crowding near the internal ion channel opening. Glu side chains are chemically equivalent to, but longer by one -CH2 than Asp, side chains. Ferritin D127E assembled into normal protein cages, but diferric peroxo formation (enzyme activity) was not observed, when measured at 650 nm (DFP λ max). The caged biomineral formation, measured at 350 nm in the middle of the broad, nonspecific Fe(3+)-O absorption band, was slower. Structural differences (protein X-ray crystallography), between ion channels in wild type and ferritin D127E, which correlate with the inhibition of ferritin D127E enzyme activity include: (1) narrower interior ion channel openings/pores; (2) increased numbers of ion channel protein-metal binding sites, and (3) a change in ion channel electrostatics due to carboxylate crowding. The contributions of ion channel size and structure to ferritin activity reflect metal ion transport in ion channels are precisely regulated both in ferritin protein nanocages and membranes of living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabindra K Behera
- Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI), 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA, 94609, USA
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13
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Honarmand Ebrahimi K, Hagedoorn PL, Hagen WR. Unity in the Biochemistry of the Iron-Storage Proteins Ferritin and Bacterioferritin. Chem Rev 2014; 115:295-326. [DOI: 10.1021/cr5004908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kourosh Honarmand Ebrahimi
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628
BC Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Peter-Leon Hagedoorn
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628
BC Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Wilfred R. Hagen
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628
BC Delft, The Netherlands
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