Fig. 3

The suggested mechanism of formation of the AuMu nanostructures. At pH 3, the nucleation step takes place at the Cys sites exposed within the unfolded PGM chains. Next, coalescence between the particles occurs, and the resulting structures then form triangular and hexagonal structures. At pH 9, the closed pockets in the PGM folded form dictate only nanoparticles' formation since diffusion at these conditions is limited. At pH 6, where the PGM is partially folded, coral-like structures are formed by coalescence of the small nanoparticles at the folded pockets, with the larger ones nucleated at the unfolded sites. Inserts: TEM images of formed nanoparticles and nanostructures at different pHs)