Electrical conductivity of ferritin proteins by conductive AFM

Nano Lett. 2005 Apr;5(4):571-7. doi: 10.1021/nl048218x.

Abstract

Electrical conductivity measurements were performed on single apoferritin and holoferritin molecules by conductive atomic force microscopy. Conductivity of self-assembled monolayer films of ferritin molecules on gold surfaces was also measured. Holoferritin was 5-15 times more conductive than apoferritin, indicating that for holoferritin most electron-transfer goes through the ferrihydrite core. With 1 V applied, the average electrical currents through single holoferritin and apoferritin molecules were 2.6 pA and 0.19 pA, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoferritins / chemistry*
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Electron Transport
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Ferritins / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Horses
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Gold
  • ferric oxyhydroxide
  • Ferritins
  • Apoferritins