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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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Rakshit T, Melters DP, Dimitriadis EK, Dalal Y. Mechanical properties of nucleoprotein complexes determined by nanoindentation spectroscopy. Nucleus 2021; 11:264-282. [PMID: 32954931 PMCID: PMC7529419 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2020.1816053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, 3-D organization, and mechanical properties of the chromatin fiber controls genome function in eukaryotes. Besides the canonical histones which fold the bulk of the chromatin into nucleosomes, histone variants create distinctive chromatin domains that are thought to regulate transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. Whether histone variants translate distinctive biochemical or biophysical properties to their associated chromatin structures, and whether these properties impact chromatin dynamics as the genome undergoes a multitude of transactions, is an important question in biology. Here, we describe single-molecule nanoindentation tools that we developed specifically to determine the mechanical properties of histone variant nucleosomes and their complexes. These methods join an array of cutting-edge new methods that further our quantitative understanding of the response of chromatin to intrinsic and extrinsic forces which act upon it during biological transactions in the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatini Rakshit
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Chemical, Biological & Macromolecular Sciences, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences , Salt Lake, India
| | - Daniël P Melters
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emilios K Dimitriadis
- Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yamini Dalal
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
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3
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How stable are the collagen and ferritin proteins for application in bioelectronics? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246180. [PMID: 33513177 PMCID: PMC7845979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One major obstacle in development of biomolecular electronics is the loss of function of biomolecules upon their surface-integration and storage. Although a number of reports on solid-state electron transport capacity of proteins have been made, no study on whether their functional integrity is preserved upon surface-confinement and storage over a long period of time (few months) has been reported. We have investigated two specific cases—collagen and ferritin proteins, since these proteins exhibit considerable potential as bioelectronic materials as we reported earlier. Since one of the major factors for protein degradation is the proteolytic action of protease, such studies were made under the action of protease, which was either added deliberately or perceived to have entered in the reaction vial from ambient environment. Since no significant change in the structural characteristics of these proteins took place, as observed in the circular dichroism and UV-visible spectrophotometry experiments, and the electron transport capacity was largely retained even upon direct protease exposure as revealed from the current sensing atomic force spectroscopy experiments, we propose that stable films can be formed using the collagen and ferritin proteins. The observed protease-resistance and robust nature of these two proteins support their potential application in bioelectronics.
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Kolay J, Bera S, Mukhopadhyay R. Electron Transport in Muscle Protein Collagen. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:11950-11957. [PMID: 31404493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent times, collagen, which is one of the most abundant proteins in animals, has appeared to be an attractive candidate for biomaterial applications, for example, in medical implants and wearable electronics. This is because collagen is water-insoluble, biocompatible, and nontoxic. In addition, films of different sizes and shapes can be made using this protein as it is malleable and elastic in nature. However, its electron transport capacity or its absence has remained largely untested so far. Therefore, in this work, the electron transport behavior of collagen has been studied in both film and single-fiber states in a local probe configuration using current-sensing atomic force spectroscopy (CSAFS). From the CSAFS analyses, the electronic (transport) band gap of collagen has been estimated. It has been found that collagen behaves as a wide band gap semiconductor (near-insulating) in a variety of experimental conditions. The transition to a semiconducting material with a low electronic band gap and a nearly 1000-fold enhancement of current (picoampere to nanoampere level) occurs by metal ion treatment (here, Fe3+) of the native collagen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a molecular level study of the electron transport behavior of collagen proteins and estimation of transport band gap values of collagen and metalated collagen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayeeta Kolay
- School of Biological Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur , Kolkata 700 032 , India
| | - Sudipta Bera
- School of Biological Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur , Kolkata 700 032 , India
| | - Rupa Mukhopadhyay
- School of Biological Sciences , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur , Kolkata 700 032 , India
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Liang W, Wu C, Cai Z, Sun Y, Zhang H, Wu P, Cai C. Tuning the electron transport band gap of bovine serum albumin by doping with Vb12. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:2853-2856. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc00688e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A facile method to tune the electron transport band gaps of proteins via doping with other molecules is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
| | - Chuanli Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
| | - Zhewei Cai
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Clarkson University
- Potsdam
- USA
| | - Yujie Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
| | - Hui Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
| | - Ping Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
| | - Chenxin Cai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
- Nanjing Normal University
- Nanjing 210097
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Kolay J, Bera S, Rakshit T, Mukhopadhyay R. Negative Differential Resistance Behavior of the Iron Storage Protein Ferritin. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:3126-3135. [PMID: 29412680 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b04356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Realization of useful nanometer length scale devices in which metalloproteins are junction-confined in a distinct molecular arrangement for generating practical electronic signals (e.g., in bioelectronic switch configuration) is elusive till date. This is mostly due to difficulties in observing an electronically appropriate signal (i.e., reproducible and controllable), when studied under junction-assembled condition. A useful "ON"-"OFF" behavior, based on the negative differential resistance (NDR) peak characteristics in the current-voltage response curves, acquired using metal-insulator-metal (MIM) configuration, has been observed only in the case of a few proteins, namely, azurin, cytochrome c, bacteriorhodopsin, so far. The case of NDR in ferritin, an iron storage protein having a semiconducting iron core consisting of few thousands of iron atoms connected in an oxide network, has not been studied in the MIM configuration where single (or a few) molecule(s) are junction-trapped, for example, as in the case of local probe configuration of scanning probe microscopy. The present study by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), using the naturally occurring iron-containing ferritin (human liver), as well as different iron-loaded ferritins, provides clear indication of the capability of ferritins to be NDR capable, at varying sweep conditions. As ferritin can be tailor-made in a structurally conserved manner, metal core-reconstituted ferritins, that is, Mn(III)-ferritin, Cu(II)-ferritin, and Ag-ferritin, were prepared. A correlation between the NDR peak signatures, as observed in the respective current-voltage response curves of these reconstituted ferritins, and the nature of the metal core is demonstrated. In support of our earlier proposition, here, we affirm that the ferritin protein behaves as a conductor-insulator (metal core-polypeptide shell) composite, where the overall electronic structure of the material can alter as a function of the nature of the conducting filler placed inside the insulated matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kolay
- Department of Biological Chemistry , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032 , India
| | - S Bera
- Department of Biological Chemistry , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032 , India
| | - T Rakshit
- Department of Biological Chemistry , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032 , India
| | - R Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biological Chemistry , Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032 , India
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7
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Bera S, Kolay J, Banerjee S, Mukhopadhyay R. Nanoscale On-Silico Electron Transport via Ferritins. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:1951-1958. [PMID: 28145712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b04120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Silicon is a solid-state semiconducting material that has long been recognized as a technologically useful one, especially in electronics industry. However, its application in the next-generation metalloprotein-based electronics approaches has been limited. In this work, the applicability of silicon as a solid support for anchoring the iron-storage protein ferritin, which has a semiconducting iron nanocore, and probing electron transport via the ferritin molecules trapped between silicon substrate and a conductive scanning probe has been investigated. Ferritin protein is an attractive bioelectronic material because its size (X-ray crystallographic diameter ∼12 nm) should allow it to fit well in the larger tunnel gaps (>5 nm), fabrication of which is relatively more established, than the smaller ones. The electron transport events occurring through the ferritin molecules that are covalently anchored onto the MPTMS-modified silicon surface could be detected at the molecular level by current-sensing atomic force spectroscopy (CSAFS). Importantly, the distinct electronic signatures of the metal types (i.e., Fe, Mn, Ni, and Au) within the ferritin nanocore could be distinguished from each other using the transport band gap analyses. The CSAFS measurements on holoferritin, apoferritin, and the metal core reconstituted ferritins reveal that some of these ferritins behave like n-type semiconductors, while the others behave as p-type semiconductors. The band gaps for the different ferritins are found to be within 0.8 to 2.6 eV, a range that is valid for the standard semiconductor technology (e.g., diodes based on p-n junction). The present work indicates effective on-silico integration of the ferritin protein, as it remains functionally viable after silicon binding and its electron transport activities can be detected. Potential use of the ferritin-silicon nanohybrids may therefore be envisaged in applications other than bioelectronics, too, as ferritin is a versatile nanocore-containing biomaterial (for storage/transport of metals and drugs) and silicon can be a versatile nanoscale solid support (for its biocompatible nature).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Bera
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Jayeeta Kolay
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Siddhartha Banerjee
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Rupa Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India
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8
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Kumar KS, Pasula RR, Lim S, Nijhuis CA. Long-Range Tunneling Processes across Ferritin-Based Junctions. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2016; 28:1824-30. [PMID: 26708136 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201504402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of long-range charge transport across tunneling junctions with monolayers of ferritin is investigated. It is shown that the mechanism can be switched between coherent tunneling, sequential tunneling, and hopping by changing the iron content inside the ferritin. This study shows that ferritins are an interesting class of biomolecules to control charge transport.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupali Reddy Pasula
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore
| | - Sierin Lim
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore
- NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Christian A Nijhuis
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543, Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, 6 Science Drive 2, 117546, Singapore
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9
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Ghirlando R, Mutskova R, Schwartz C. Enrichment and characterization of ferritin for nanomaterial applications. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:045102. [PMID: 26656976 PMCID: PMC6284806 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/4/045102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron storage protein utilized as a nanomaterial for labeling biomolecules and nanoparticle construction. Commercially available preparations of horse spleen ferritin, widely used as a starting material, contain a distribution of ferritins with different iron loads. We describe a detailed approach to the enrichment of differentially loaded ferritin molecules by common biophysical techniques such as size exclusion chromatography and preparative ultracentrifugation, and characterize these preparations by dynamic light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation. We demonstrate a combination of methods to standardize an approach for determining the chemical load of nearly any particle, including nanoparticles and metal colloids. Purification and characterization of iron content in monodisperse ferritin species is particularly critical for several applications in nanomaterial science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda MD 20892
| | - Radina Mutskova
- Honors College, Integrated Life Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742
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Heger Z, Skalickova S, Zitka O, Adam V, Kizek R. Apoferritin applications in nanomedicine. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2015; 9:2233-45. [PMID: 25405799 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.14.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine as a continuously evolving discipline is still looking for a structure with perfect properties that is usable as a multifunctional transporter. Great potential is attributed to synthetic materials such as fullerenes, porous hollow silica nanoparticles and single-wall nanotubes, among others. However, materials that are natural to the human body are more acceptable by the organism, and thus become an attractive approach in this field of research. Ferritins are proteins that naturally occur in most living organisms throughout evolution and may be a possible transporter choice. Numerous applications have demonstrated the possibilities of iron-free ferritins, called apoferritins, serving as platforms for various nanomedical purposes This article summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of these proteins and discusses their practical applications and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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11
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Chen L, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Chu S, He W, Li Y, Su X. Preparation and representation of recombinant Mn-ferritin flower-like spherical aggregates from marine invertebrates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119427. [PMID: 25879665 PMCID: PMC4399908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferritin has important functions in the transition and storage of toxic metal ions, but its regulation and function in many invertebrate species are still largely unknown. In our previous work, the cDNA sequence of Sinonovacula constricta, Apostichopus japonicas and Acaudina leucoprocta were constructed and efficiently expressed in E. Coli BL21 under IPTG induction. In this follow-up study, the recombinant ferritins were exposed to heavy metal manganese. The manganese concentration levels in three recombinant ferritins were greater than horse spleen ferritin (HSF). Compared with HSF, the amount of manganese enrichment in the three recombinant ferritins was 1.75-fold, 3.25-fold and 2.42-fold increases in ScFER, AjFER, and AlFER, respectively. After phosphate stimulation, the concentration of manganese increased and was higher than the ordinary dialysis control groups. The ScFER was four times its baseline value. The AjFER and AlFER were 1.4- and 8-fold higher, respectively. The AlFER sample stimulated by phosphate was 22-fold that of HSF. The morphologies of the resulting Mn-Ferritin from different marine invertebrates were characterized with scanning electron microscopy. Surface morphologies were lamella flower-like and are consistent with changes in surface morphologies of the standard Mn-HSF. Invertebrate recombinant ferritin and HSF both can uptake manganese. We found that the structure of A. leucoproctarecombinant Mn-Ferritin aggregate changed over time. The surface formed lamella flower-like aggregate, but gradually merged to create a relatively uniform plate-like phase of aggregate spherically and fused without clear boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Chen
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhou
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunyun Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuangshuang Chu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Weina He
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiurong Su
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
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Erickson SD, Smith TJ, Moses LM, Watt RK, Colton JS. Non-native Co-, Mn-, and Ti-oxyhydroxide nanocrystals in ferritin for high efficiency solar energy conversion. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 26:015703. [PMID: 25490522 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/1/015703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Quantum dot solar cells seek to surpass the solar energy conversion efficiencies achieved by bulk semiconductors. This new field requires a broad selection of materials to achieve its full potential. The 12 nm spherical protein ferritin can be used as a template for uniform and controlled nanocrystal growth, and to then house the nanocrystals for use in solar energy conversion. In this study, precise band gaps of titanium, cobalt, and manganese oxyhydroxide nanocrystals within ferritin were measured, and a change in band gap due to quantum confinement effects was observed. The range of band gaps obtainable from these three types of nanocrystals is 2.19-2.29 eV, 1.93-2.15 eV, and 1.60-1.65 eV respectively. From these measured band gaps, theoretical efficiency limits for a multi-junction solar cell using these ferritin-enclosed nanocrystals are calculated and found to be 38.0% for unconcentrated sunlight and 44.9% for maximally concentrated sunlight. If a ferritin-based nanocrystal with a band gap similar to silicon can be found (i.e. 1.12 eV), the theoretical efficiency limits are raised to 51.3% and 63.1%, respectively. For a current matched cell, these latter efficiencies become 41.6% (with an operating voltage of 5.49 V), and 50.0% (with an operating voltage of 6.59 V), for unconcentrated and maximally concentrated sunlight respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Erickson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
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13
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Nocera TM, Zeng Y, Agarwal G. Distinguishing ferritin from apoferritin using magnetic force microscopy. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 25:461001. [PMID: 25355655 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/461001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Estimating the amount of iron-replete ferritin versus iron-deficient apoferritin proteins is important in biomedical and nanotechnology applications. This work introduces a simple and novel approach to quantify ferritin by using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). We demonstrate how high magnetic moment probes enhance the magnitude of MFM signal, thus enabling accurate quantitative estimation of ferritin content in ferritin/apoferritin mixtures in vitro. We envisage MFM could be adapted to accurately determine ferritin content in protein mixtures or in small aliquots of clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Nocera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA
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14
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Colton JS, Erickson SD, Smith TJ, Watt RK. Sensitive detection of surface- and size-dependent direct and indirect band gap transitions in ferritin. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 25:135703. [PMID: 24583827 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/13/135703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin is a protein nano-cage that encapsulates minerals inside an 8 nm cavity. Previous band gap measurements on the native mineral, ferrihydrite, have reported gaps as low as 1.0 eV and as high as 2.5-3.5 eV. To resolve this discrepancy we have used optical absorption spectroscopy, a well-established technique for measuring both direct and indirect band gaps. Our studies included controls on the protein nano-cage, ferritin with the native ferrihydrite mineral, and ferritin with reconstituted ferrihydrite cores of different sizes. We report measurements of an indirect band gap for native ferritin of 2.140 ± 0.015 eV (579.7 nm), with a direct transition appearing at 3.053 ± 0.005 eV (406.1 nm). We also see evidence of a defect-related state having a binding energy of 0.220 ± 0.010 eV . Reconstituted ferrihydrite minerals of different sizes were also studied and showed band gap energies which increased with decreasing size due to quantum confinement effects. Molecules that interact with the surface of the mineral core also demonstrated a small influence following trends in ligand field theory, altering the native mineral's band gap up to 0.035 eV.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Colton
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo UT 84602, USA
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15
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Watt RK, Petrucci OD, Smith T. Ferritin as a model for developing 3rd generation nano architecture organic/inorganic hybrid photo catalysts for energy conversion. Catal Sci Technol 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cy00536d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Gutiérrez L, Zubow K, Nield J, Gambis A, Mollereau B, Lázaro FJ, Missirlis F. Biophysical and genetic analysis of iron partitioning and ferritin function in Drosophila melanogaster. Metallomics 2013; 5:997-1005. [DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00118k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Rakshit T, Mukhopadhyay R. Solid-state electron transport in Mn-, Co-, holo-, and Cu-ferritins: Force-induced modulation is inversely linked to the protein conductivity. J Colloid Interface Sci 2012; 388:282-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2012.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Korpany KV, Langat P, Kim DM, Edelman N, Cooper DR, Nadeau J, Blum AS. Conductance switching in the photoswitchable protein Dronpa. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:16119-22. [PMID: 22967233 DOI: 10.1021/ja306031n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dronpa, a photoswitchable GFP-like protein, was self-assembled onto gold substrates, and its conductance was measured using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin V Korpany
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
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