Electrical conductivity of ferritin proteins by conductive AFM.
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.
Xu
Degao
D
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.
Watt
Gerald D
GD
Harb
John N
JN
Davis
Robert C
RC
D000818:Animals; D001052:Apoferritins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004579:Electron Transport; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006736:Horses; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006046:Gold; C092844:ferric oxyhydroxide; D005293:Ferritins; D001052:Apoferritins