Redox reaction characteristics of ferritin-immobilized onto poly(l-lysine)-modified indium oxide electrodes

Ferritin-immobilized poly(l-lysine)-modified electrodes showed well-defined redox waves representing ferritin. Cathodic and anodic peak currents obtained from cyclic voltammograms were proportional to potential sweep rates. From charge flow values during oxidation or reduction reactions calculated by peak areas in cyclic voltammograms, and the surface coverage of ferritin, reacted iron atoms per ferritin molecule were calculated. Obtained numbers of reacted iron atoms were significantly smaller than expected values from iron atoms at ferrihydrite core surfaces of ferritin, which would be caused by the rate-determining ion flow through ion channels of ferritin to compensate for charges in the ferritin cavity. Anodic and cathodic peak potentials in cyclic voltammograms were significantly dependent on cationic species in the solution, though voltammetric shapes and peak currents were independent of cations. From the obtained results that structural changes in ferritin were not detected by fluorescent spectra, it is thought that the cationic dependence on ferritin redox peak potentials is caused by ferritin cores.