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Synthesis of Nanophase Iron Oxide in Lumazine Synthase Capsids
Author(s) -
Shenton Wayne,
Mann Stephen,
Cölfen Helmut,
Bacher Adelbert,
Fischer Markus
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3773(20010119)40:2<442::aid-anie442>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - nanoreactor , capsid , chemistry , atp synthase , crystallography , chemical engineering , enzyme , biochemistry , engineering , gene , catalysis
An enzyme‐based bio‐nanoreactor : By acting as a mineralization template, lumazine synthase, a 60‐subunit enzyme complex which has a hollow porous shell, can fabricate nanocrystalline iron oxide. Fe ions can permeate the capsid through hydrophilic funnel‐shaped channels lined with glutamic acid residues (see picture) and become encapsulated in the cavity as Fe III oxide. The capsid increases in size from 15 to 30 nm in diameter through formation of a higher order structure as the concentration of Fe III increases.