Binding of ferritin molecules to a charged polypeptide layer of poly-1-benzyl-L-histidine

The binding of ferritin molecules to a charged polypeptide layer of poly-1- benzyl-L-histidine spread at the air-water interface has been studied. The films were transferred onto an alkylated silicon wafer and were observed with a scanning electron microscope without staining or metal shadowing. The purpose of the present study was to explore the formation of densely and/or regularly packed two- dimensional arrays of protein molecules by means of the Langmuir-Blodgett method. Compression of the ferritin-peptide film at the air-water interface was found to be highly effective in producing closely packed arrays of ferritin molecules. Control experiments with an uncharged interfacial film of poly-γ-benzyl-L- glutamate gave no evidence of binding or array formation.