Iron Biomineral Growth from the Initial Nucleation Seed in L-Ferritin.
Ciambellotti, S., Pozzi, C., Mangani, S., Turano, P.(2020) Chemistry 26: 5770-5773
- PubMed: 32027764 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202000064
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6TR9, 6TRZ, 6TS0, 6TS1, 6TSA, 6TSF, 6TSJ, 6TSS, 6TSX - PubMed Abstract: 
X-ray structures of homopolymeric human L-ferritin and horse spleen ferritin were solved by freezing protein crystals at different time intervals after exposure to a ferric salt and revealed the growth of an octa-nuclear iron cluster on the inner surface of the protein cage with a key role played by some glutamate residues. An atomic resolution view of how the cluster formation develops starting from a (μ 3 -oxo)tris[(μ 2 -glutamato-κO:κO')](glutamato-κO)(diaquo)triiron(III) seed is provided. The results support the idea that iron biomineralization in ferritin is a process initiating at the level of the protein surface, capable of contributing coordination bonds and electrostatic guidance.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy.