SANS contrast variation study of magnetoferritin structure at various iron loading

TL;DR

This study uses small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation to analyze how varying iron loading affects the structure and polydispersity of magnetoferritin, revealing core formation and shell changes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the structural effects of different iron loadings in magnetoferritin using neutron scattering contrast variation.

Findings

Higher iron loading increases neutron scattering length density.

Iron loading causes increased polydispersity of complexes.

Magnetic core formation and shell structure variation are observed.

Abstract

Magnetoferritin, a synthetic derivate of iron storage protein - ferritin, has been synthesized with different iron oxide loading values. Small-angle neutron scattering experiments were applied to study the structure of magnetoferritin solutions using contrast variation method by varying the light to heavy water ratio of the solvent. Higher iron loading leads to increasing of the neutron scattering length density of magnetoferritin and also to the increase of the polydispersity of complexes. The formation of the magnetic core and the variation of the protein shell structure upon iron loading are concluded.