Structural Insights into Iron Ions Accumulation in Dps Nanocage

Dps (DNA-binding protein from starved cells) is well known for the structural protection of bacterial DNA by the formation of highly ordered intracellular assemblies under stress conditions. Moreover, this ferritin-like protein can perform fast oxidation of ferrous ions and subsequently accumulate clusters of ferric ions in its nanocages, thus providing the bacterium with physical and chemical protection. Here, cryo-electron microscopy was used to study the accumulation of iron ions in the nanocage of a Dps protein from Escherichia coli. We demonstrate that Fe²⁺ concentration in the solution and incubation time have an insignificant effect on the volume and the morphology of iron minerals formed in Dps nanocages. However, an increase in the Fe²⁺ level leads to an increase in the proportion of larger clusters and the clusters themselves are composed of discrete ~1-1.5 nm subunits.