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Ricci C, Abbandonato G, Giannangeli M, Matthews L, Almásy L, Sartori B, Podestà A, Caselli A, Boffi A, Thiel G, Del Favero E, Moroni A. Ferritin at different iron loading: From biological to nanotechnological applications. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133812. [PMID: 39032902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The characterization of the structure of ferritin in solution and the arrangement of iron stored in its cavity are intriguing subjects for both cell biology and applied science, since the protein structure, stability, and easiness of production make it an ideal tool for biomedical applications. We characterized the ferritin structure over a wide range of iron loadings by visible light, X-ray, and neutron scattering techniques. We found that the arrangement of iron ions inside the protein cage resulted in a more disposable arrangement at lower loading factors and then in a crystalline structure. At very high iron content the inner core is composed of magnetite more than ferrihydrite, and the shell of the protein is elastically deformed by the iron crystal growth in an ellipsoidal arrangement. The application of an external radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field affected ferritins at low iron loading factors. Notably the RF modified the iron disposition towards a more dispersed arrangement. The structural characterization of the ferritin at different LFs and in presence of magnetic fields provides useful insights into their physiological behaviour and can help in the design and fine-tuning of ferritin-based nanosystems for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lauren Matthews
- ESRF, The European Synchrotron, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - László Almásy
- HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, POB 49, Budapest 1525, Hungary
| | - Barbara Sartori
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9/4, Graz, Austria
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Boffi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Gerhard Thiel
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Anna Moroni
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Hagen WR. Quantum Magnetism of the Iron Core in Ferritin Proteins-A Re-Evaluation of the Giant-Spin Model. Molecules 2024; 29:2254. [PMID: 38792115 PMCID: PMC11123763 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29102254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The electron-electron, or zero-field interaction (ZFI) in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of high-spin transition ions in metalloproteins and coordination complexes, is commonly described by a simple spin Hamiltonian that is second-order in the spin S: H=D[Sz2-SS+1/3+E(Sx2-Sy2). Symmetry considerations, however, allow for fourth-order terms when S ≥ 2. In metalloprotein EPR studies, these terms have rarely been explored. Metal ions can cluster via non-metal bridges, as, for example, in iron-sulfur clusters, in which exchange interaction can result in higher system spin, and this would allow for sixth- and higher-order ZFI terms. For metalloproteins, these have thus far been completely ignored. Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are multi-metal ion high spin complexes, in which the ZFI usually has a negative sign, thus affording a ground state level pair with maximal spin quantum number mS = ±S, giving rise to unusual magnetic properties at low temperatures. The description of EPR from SMMs is commonly cast in terms of the 'giant-spin model', which assumes a magnetically isolated system spin, and in which fourth-order, and recently, even sixth-order ZFI terms have been found to be required. A special version of the giant-spin model, adopted for scaling-up to system spins of order S ≈ 103-104, has been applied to the ubiquitous iron-storage protein ferritin, which has an internal core containing Fe3+ ions whose individual high spins couple in a way to create a superparamagnet at ambient temperature with very high system spin reminiscent to that of ferromagnetic nanoparticles. This scaled giant-spin model is critically evaluated; limitations and future possibilities are explicitly formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred R Hagen
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Building 58, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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Fonseca Ó, Ramos AS, Gomes LTS, Gomes MS, Moreira AC. New Perspectives on Circulating Ferritin: Its Role in Health and Disease. Molecules 2023; 28:7707. [PMID: 38067440 PMCID: PMC10708148 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of iron disturbances usually includes the evaluation of serum parameters. Serum iron is assumed to be entirely bound to transferrin, and transferrin saturation-the ratio between the serum iron concentration and serum transferrin-usually reflects iron availability. Additionally, serum ferritin is commonly used as a surrogate of tissue iron levels. Low serum ferritin values are interpreted as a sign of iron deficiency, and high values are the main indicator of pathological iron overload. However, in situations of inflammation, serum ferritin levels may be very high, independently of tissue iron levels. This presents a particularly puzzling challenge for the clinician evaluating the overall iron status of the patient in the presence of an inflammatory condition. The increase in serum ferritin during inflammation is one of the enigmas regarding iron metabolism. Neither the origin, the mechanism of release, nor the effects of serum ferritin are known. The use of serum ferritin as a biomarker of disease has been rising, and it has become increasingly diverse, but whether or not it contributes to controlling the disease or host pathology, and how it would do it, are important, open questions. These will be discussed here, where we spotlight circulating ferritin and revise the recent clinical and preclinical data regarding its role in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Óscar Fonseca
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (Ó.F.); (A.S.R.); (L.T.S.G.); (M.S.G.)
| | - Ana S. Ramos
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (Ó.F.); (A.S.R.); (L.T.S.G.); (M.S.G.)
- FCUP—Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Leonor T. S. Gomes
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (Ó.F.); (A.S.R.); (L.T.S.G.); (M.S.G.)
- FCUP—Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Salomé Gomes
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (Ó.F.); (A.S.R.); (L.T.S.G.); (M.S.G.)
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana C. Moreira
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (Ó.F.); (A.S.R.); (L.T.S.G.); (M.S.G.)
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Kuno S, Iwai K. Oxygen modulates iron homeostasis by switching iron-sensing of NCOA4. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104701. [PMID: 37059186 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
To ensure proper utilization of iron and avoid its toxicity, cells are equipped with iron-sensing proteins to maintain cellular iron homeostasis. We showed previously that NCOA4, a ferritin-specific autophagy adapter, intricately regulates the fate of ferritin; upon binding to Fe3+, NCOA4 forms insoluble condensates and regulates ferritin autophagy in iron-replete conditions. Here, we demonstrate an additional iron-sensing mechanism of NCOA4. Our results indicate that the insertion of an Fe-S cluster enables preferential recognition of NCOA4 by the HERC2 ubiquitin ligase in iron-replete conditions, resulting in degradation by the proteasome and subsequent inhibition of ferritinophagy. We also found that both condensation and ubiquitin-mediated degradation of NCOA4 can occur in the same cell, and the cellular oxygen tension determines the selection of these pathways. Fe-S cluster-mediated degradation of NCOA4 is enhanced under hypoxia, whereas NCOA4 forms condensates and degrades ferritin at higher oxygen levels. Considering the involvement of iron in oxygen handling, our findings demonstrate that the NCOA4/ferritin axis is another layer of cellular iron regulation in response to oxygen levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sota Kuno
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Iwai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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Huo C, Ming T, Wu Y, Huan H, Qiu X, Lu C, Li Y, Zhang Z, Han J, Su X. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Silver/Copper Binding by Dendrorhynchus zhejiangensis Ferritin. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15051297. [PMID: 36904538 PMCID: PMC10007213 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritin with a highly symmetrical cage-like structure is not only key in the reversible storage of iron in efficient ferroxidase activity; it also provides unique coordination environments for the conjugation of heavy metal ions other than those associated with iron. However, research regarding the effect of these bound heavy metal ions on ferritin is scarce. In the present study, we prepared a marine invertebrate ferritin from Dendrorhynchus zhejiangensis (DzFer) and found that it could withstand extreme pH fluctuation. We then demonstrated its capacity to interact with Ag+ or Cu2+ ions using various biochemical and spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. Structural and biochemical analyses revealed that both Ag+ and Cu2+ were able to bind to the DzFer cage via metal-coordination bonds and that their binding sites were mainly located inside the three-fold channel of DzFer. Furthermore, Ag+ was shown to have a higher selectivity for sulfur-containing amino acid residues and appeared to bind preferentially at the ferroxidase site of DzFer as compared with Cu2+. Thus, it is far more likely to inhibit the ferroxidase activity of DzFer. The results provide new insights into the effect of heavy metal ions on the iron-binding capacity of a marine invertebrate ferritin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunheng Huo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Tinghong Ming
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Correspondence: (T.M.); (X.S.); Tel./Fax: +86-574-87608368 (X.S.)
| | - Yan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Hengshang Huan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Xiaoting Qiu
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Chenyang Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Ye Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Jiaojiao Han
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
| | - Xiurong Su
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
- Correspondence: (T.M.); (X.S.); Tel./Fax: +86-574-87608368 (X.S.)
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6
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Grant ES, Hall LT, Hollenberg LCL, McColl G, Simpson DA. Nonmonotonic Superparamagnetic Behavior of the Ferritin Iron Core Revealed via Quantum Spin Relaxometry. ACS NANO 2023; 17:372-381. [PMID: 36534782 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c08698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin is the primary storage protein in our body and is of significant interest in biochemistry, nanotechnology, and condensed matter physics. More specifically within this sphere of interest are the magnetic properties of the iron core of ferritin, which have been utilized as a contrast agent in applications such as magnetic resonance imaging. This magnetism depends on both the number of iron atoms present, L, and the nature of the magnetic ordering of their electron spins. In this work, we create a series of ferritin samples containing homogeneous iron loads and apply diamond-based quantum spin relaxometry to systematically study their room temperature magnetic properties. We observe anomalous magnetic behavior that can be explained using a theoretical model detailing a morphological change to the iron core occurring at relatively low iron loads. This model provides an L0.35±0.06 scaling of the uncompensated Fe spins, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions. The necessary inclusion of this morphological change within the model is also supported by electron microscopy studies of ferritin with low iron content. This provides evidence for a magnetic consequence of this morphological change and positions diamond-based quantum spin relaxometry as an effective, noninvasive tool for probing the magnetic properties of metalloproteins. The low detection limit (ferritin 2% loaded at a concentration of 7.5 ± 0.4 μg/mL) also makes this a promising method for precision applications where low analyte concentrations are unavoidable, such as in biological research or even clinical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin S Grant
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
| | - Liam T Hall
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
| | - Lloyd C L Hollenberg
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
| | - Gawain McColl
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
| | - David A Simpson
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010, Australia
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Bacterioferritin nanocage: Structure, biological function, catalytic mechanism, self-assembly and potential applications. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 61:108057. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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