The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification
Although the use of silicon dioxide (silica) as a constituent of living organisms is mainly restricted to diatoms and sponges, the ways in which this process is controlled by nature continue to inspire and fascinate. Both diatoms and sponges carry out biosilificiation using an organic matrix but the...
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Scientifica |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.6064/2012/867562 |
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| author | Daniel Otzen |
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| description | Although the use of silicon dioxide (silica) as a constituent of living organisms is mainly restricted to diatoms and sponges, the ways in which this process is controlled by nature continue to inspire and fascinate. Both diatoms and sponges carry out biosilificiation using an organic matrix but they adopt very different strategies. Diatoms use small and heavily modified peptides called silaffins, where the most characteristic feature is a modulation of charge by attaching long chain polyamines (LCPAs) to lysine groups. Free LCPAs can also cooperate with silaffins. Sponges use the enzyme silicatein which is homologous to the cysteine protease cathepsin. Both classes of proteins form higher-order structures which act both as structural templates and mechanistic catalysts for the polycondensation reaction. In both cases, additional proteins are continuously being discovered which modulate the process further. This paper concentrates on the role of these proteins in the biosilification process as well as in various applications, highlighting areas where focus on specific protein properties may provide further insight. The field of biosilification is a crossroads of different disciplines, where insight into the energetics and mechanisms of molecular self-assembly combine with fundamental biology, complex multicomponent colloidal systems, and an impressive array of potential technological applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2803e346690d4c8d95a1cbec7cbf8f08 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-908X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Scientifica |
| spelling | doaj-art-2803e346690d4c8d95a1cbec7cbf8f082025-08-20T02:04:18ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2012-01-01201210.6064/2012/867562867562The Role of Proteins in BiosilicificationDaniel Otzen0Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN), and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, DenmarkAlthough the use of silicon dioxide (silica) as a constituent of living organisms is mainly restricted to diatoms and sponges, the ways in which this process is controlled by nature continue to inspire and fascinate. Both diatoms and sponges carry out biosilificiation using an organic matrix but they adopt very different strategies. Diatoms use small and heavily modified peptides called silaffins, where the most characteristic feature is a modulation of charge by attaching long chain polyamines (LCPAs) to lysine groups. Free LCPAs can also cooperate with silaffins. Sponges use the enzyme silicatein which is homologous to the cysteine protease cathepsin. Both classes of proteins form higher-order structures which act both as structural templates and mechanistic catalysts for the polycondensation reaction. In both cases, additional proteins are continuously being discovered which modulate the process further. This paper concentrates on the role of these proteins in the biosilification process as well as in various applications, highlighting areas where focus on specific protein properties may provide further insight. The field of biosilification is a crossroads of different disciplines, where insight into the energetics and mechanisms of molecular self-assembly combine with fundamental biology, complex multicomponent colloidal systems, and an impressive array of potential technological applications.http://dx.doi.org/10.6064/2012/867562 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Otzen The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification Scientifica |
| title | The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification |
| title_full | The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification |
| title_short | The Role of Proteins in Biosilicification |
| title_sort | role of proteins in biosilicification |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.6064/2012/867562 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielotzen theroleofproteinsinbiosilicification AT danielotzen roleofproteinsinbiosilicification |