Bianxiao Cui, and his research team, have genetically encoded protein crystals that produce stronger magnetic forces than previously reported. Their research, published in ACS’ Nano Letters, aims to provide cells with magnetic properties, which could allow future research to direct cellular activity with external magnetic fields.
In order to generate large amounts of iron storage within a protein assembly, researchers combined the iron-binding properties of ferritin with the self-assembling properties of the Inkabox-PAK4cat protein. The Inkabox-PAK4cat protein is capable of forming large, spindle-shaped crystals inside cells. The key aim of the research team was to line the hollow interior structure of the crystal with ferritin proteins in order to store larger quantities of iron, thus generating larger magnetic forces.
The researchers were able to fuse the genes of ferritin and Inkabox-PAK4cat. The newly formed protein was expressed in a petri dish, where the cells were lysed and crystals collected. Iron was then introduced into the crystals, adding roughly 5 billion iron atoms to each crystal.