Recombinant cage-like protein, method for producing the same, precious metal-recombinant cage-like protein complex, method for producing the same and recombinant DNA

摘要

Using a gene recombination technique, a glutamic acid and an aspartic acid positioned in a channel of apoferritin are substituted with serine having a small size and no charges. Then, a glutamic acid positioned in a holding portion is substituted with a basic amino acid such as lysine or a neutral amino acid. Furthermore, at least one cysteine is introduced into the holding portion. This prevents a repulsive force due to electrostatic interaction between (AuCl₄)⁻ having a negative charge and a negative amino acid from occurring, which facilitates the capture of (AuCl₄)⁻ into the channel and the holding portion. The (AuCl₄)⁻ captured into the holding portion is subsequently reduced to Au, and thus apoferritin including gold particles can be produced.