Spherical mixed-valence pentadecavanadate binding to human H-chain ferritin

Abstract

The interaction of [V^IVO(acac)₂], acac = acetylacetonato, with H-chain ferritin has been studied. After dissociation and partial oxidation, [V^IVO(acac)₂] forms a mixed-valence [V₁₅O₃₆(Cl)]⁶⁻ ion, which non-covalently binds with the protein nanocage. This polyoxidovanadate is formed at alkaline pH, showing that proteins can favor the formation and stabilization of species hardly isolable in solution.