Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation
Biomineralization processes leading to complex solid structures of inorganic material in biological systems are constantly gaining attention in biotechnology and biomedical research. An outstanding example for biomineral morphogenesis is the formation of highly elaborate, nano-patterned silica shell...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-08-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/13/8/5297 |
| _version_ | 1811184726842540032 |
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| author | Carolin C. Lechner Christian F. W. Becker |
| author_facet | Carolin C. Lechner Christian F. W. Becker |
| author_sort | Carolin C. Lechner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biomineralization processes leading to complex solid structures of inorganic material in biological systems are constantly gaining attention in biotechnology and biomedical research. An outstanding example for biomineral morphogenesis is the formation of highly elaborate, nano-patterned silica shells by diatoms. Among the organic macromolecules that have been closely linked to the tightly controlled precipitation of silica in diatoms, silaffins play an extraordinary role. These peptides typically occur as complex posttranslationally modified variants and are directly involved in the silica deposition process in diatoms. However, even in vitro silaffin-based peptides alone, with and without posttranslational modifications, can efficiently mediate biomimetic silica precipitation leading to silica material with different properties as well as with encapsulated cargo molecules of a large size range. In this review, the biomineralization process of silica in diatoms is summarized with a specific focus on silaffins and their in vitro silica precipitation properties. Applications in the area of bio- and nanotechnology as well as in diagnostics and therapy are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:17:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2b3172a42d64288b69ff457f6a901ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:17:24Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2b3172a42d64288b69ff457f6a901ce2022-12-22T04:22:22ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972015-08-011385297533310.3390/md13085297md13085297Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica PrecipitationCarolin C. Lechner0Christian F. W. Becker1Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Fondation Sandoz Chair in Biophysical Chemistry of Macromolecules, 1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandInstitute of Biological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, AustriaBiomineralization processes leading to complex solid structures of inorganic material in biological systems are constantly gaining attention in biotechnology and biomedical research. An outstanding example for biomineral morphogenesis is the formation of highly elaborate, nano-patterned silica shells by diatoms. Among the organic macromolecules that have been closely linked to the tightly controlled precipitation of silica in diatoms, silaffins play an extraordinary role. These peptides typically occur as complex posttranslationally modified variants and are directly involved in the silica deposition process in diatoms. However, even in vitro silaffin-based peptides alone, with and without posttranslational modifications, can efficiently mediate biomimetic silica precipitation leading to silica material with different properties as well as with encapsulated cargo molecules of a large size range. In this review, the biomineralization process of silica in diatoms is summarized with a specific focus on silaffins and their in vitro silica precipitation properties. Applications in the area of bio- and nanotechnology as well as in diagnostics and therapy are discussed.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/13/8/5297biomineralizationsilaffinsdiatomsposttranslational modifications |
| spellingShingle | Carolin C. Lechner Christian F. W. Becker Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation Marine Drugs biomineralization silaffins diatoms posttranslational modifications |
| title | Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation |
| title_full | Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation |
| title_fullStr | Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation |
| title_short | Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation |
| title_sort | silaffins in silica biomineralization and biomimetic silica precipitation |
| topic | biomineralization silaffins diatoms posttranslational modifications |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/13/8/5297 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolinclechner silaffinsinsilicabiomineralizationandbiomimeticsilicaprecipitation AT christianfwbecker silaffinsinsilicabiomineralizationandbiomimeticsilicaprecipitation |