The composition and the structure of bacterioferritin of Escherichia coli

J. Yariv, A. J. Kalb, R. Sperling, E. R. Bauminger, S. G. Cohen, S. Ofer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Bacterioferritin isolated from E. coli is of two kinds: a protein containing a polynuclear iron compound, the bacterioferritin proper and a protein free of the polynuclear iron compound, the apo-bacterioferritin. Bacterioferritin of both kinds is characterized by absorption maxima at 417, 530 and 560 nm, contributed by protohaem IX. Single crystals of bacterioferritin of the space group I432 suggest that the molecule is made up of 24 identical subunits related by a cubic point symmetry. The molecular weight of the protein subunit, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, is 15000. In the electron microscope the bacterioferritin molecule appears to be a sphere of 9.5 nm (95Å) diameter composed of a negatively staining outer shell and an inner electron-dense core of 6 nm (60 Å) diameter.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-175
Number of pages5
JournalUnknown Journal
Volume197
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981

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