University of British Columbia researchers the 08ID-1 beamline to determine the molecular structure of ferritin, an iron storage protein recently discovered in a group of phytoplankton called pennate diatoms.

Aug. 24, 2010

Diatoms are unicellular phytoplankton that account for much of the primary productivity in the world's oceans. The growth and population size of diatoms is dependent on the availability of iron. Using data from the 08ID-1 beamline, researchers from the University of British Columbia determined that pennate diatoms are able to produce an iron-concentrating protein, ferritin, to store iron and thrive in areas that are usually iron-poor.