title: Structure and composition of ferritin cores from pea seed (Pisum sativum).
abstract: Iron cores from native pea seed (Pisum sativum) ferritin have been analysed by electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy and shown to be amorphous. This correlates with their relatively high phosphate content (Fe: P = 2.83; 1800 Fe, 640 P atoms/molecule). Reconstituted cores obtained by adding iron (2000 Fe atoms/molecule) in the absence of phosphate to pea seed apoferritin were crystalline ferrihydrite. In vitro rates of formation of pea-seed ferritin iron cores were intermediate between those of recombinant human H-chain and horse spleen apoferritin and this may reflect the amino-acid residues of its ferroxidase and putative nucleation centres. The high phosphate content of pea-seed ferritin suggests that this molecule could be involved in both phosphorus and iron storage. The high phosphate concentration found within plastids, from which the molecules were isolated, is a possible source of the ferritin phosphate.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bath, UK.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treffry
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laulhère
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Bauminger
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cleton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Briat
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015204:Spectroscopy, Mossbauer
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron