Silica-associated proteins from hexactinellid sponges support an alternative evolutionary scenario for biomineralization in Porifera

Abstract Metazoans use silicon traces but rarely develop extensive silica skeletons, except for the early-diverging lineage of sponges. The mechanisms underlying metazoan silicification remain incompletely understood, despite significant biotechnological and evolutionary implications. Here, the char...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katsuhiko Shimizu, Michika Nishi, Yuto Sakate, Haruka Kawanami, Tomohiro Bito, Jiro Arima, Laia Leria, Manuel Maldonado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44226-7