How Small Is Ferritin Molecule? 12 nm Compared to Scale

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Ferritin can store up to 4,500 iron atoms inside its hollow protein shell, keeping iron non-toxic in cells.

Source: PDB structure 1FHA; Protein Data Bank Molecule of the Month

Micro World

Name	Size	Compared with Ferritin Molecule
Bacteriorhodopsin Molecule	5 nm	0.42×
Transfer RNA Molecule	8 nm	0.67×
Amyloid Beta Fibril	10 nm	0.83×
Semiconductor Quantum Dot	10 nm	0.83×
Nucleosome	11 nm	0.92×
Ferritin Molecule	12 nm	this page
Colloidal Gold Nanoparticle	20 nm	1.7×
Bacteriophage Phi X174	27 nm	2.3×
Qβ Bacteriophage	28 nm	2.3×
Silver Nanoparticle	40 nm	3.3×

Test your sense of scale

Which is bigger: Ferritin Molecule or Amyloid Beta Fibril?

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