Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Molecular diffusion into ferritin: pathways, temperature dependence, incubation time, and concentration effects.

X Yang1, P Arosio, N D Chasteen

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|March 29, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Small molecules enter ferritin through charge-selective threefold channels. Temperature and protein porosity significantly influence permeation and effusion rates, impacting molecular transport kinetics.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Enhancement of enzymatic activity by biomolecular condensates through pH buffering.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Effect of Spin Clustering on Basic and Relaxometric Properties of Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology·2018
Same author

Local spin dynamics of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in different solvents with variable size and shape: A <sup>1</sup>H NMR study.

The Journal of chemical physics·2017
Same author

Characterization of magnetic nanoparticles from Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense as potential theranostics tools.

Contrast media & molecular imaging·2015
Same author

Functionality of the three-site ferroxidase center of Escherichia coli bacterial ferritin (EcFtnA).

Biochemistry·2014
Same author

A possible novel objective intraoperative measurement of maxillary bone density.

Minerva stomatologica·2013

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Ferritin is a protein shell that stores iron.
  • Understanding molecular transport through ferritin is crucial for its biological function.
  • Previous studies suggest channels facilitate molecular entry, but kinetics remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the detailed kinetics of small molecule permeation and effusion in ferritin.
  • To identify the specific pathways and factors influencing molecular transport.
  • To characterize the charge selectivity and temperature dependence of this process.

Main Methods:

  • Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.
  • Gel permeation chromatography.
  • Studies on horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and human H-chain ferritin (HuHF) variants.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Permeation of 7-9 Å species is charge-selective, with threefold channels as likely entry points.
  • Increased temperature enhances penetration and effusion rates in holoHoSF.
  • Diffusion kinetics are primarily limited by the protein's restrictive porosity, with high activation energy.

Conclusions:

  • Ferritin's threefold channels are key for selective molecular entry.
  • Temperature significantly affects molecular transport kinetics within ferritin.
  • Protein porosity and radical binding within channels control diffusion rates.