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During evolution silica deposition has been used in Protozoa, Metazoa and in plants as skeletal elements. It appears that the mechanisms for the formation of biogenic silica have evolved independently in these three taxa. In Protozoa and plants biosilicification appears to be primarily driven by non-enzymatic processes and procedes on organic matrices. In contrast, in sponges (phylum Porifera) this process is mediated by enzymes; the initiation of this process is likewise dependent on organic matrices.
In this monograph the role of biosilica as stabilizing structures in different organisms is reviewed and their role for morphogenetic processes is outlined. It provides an up-to-date summary of the mechanisms by which polymeric biosilica is formed. The volume is intended for biologists, biochemists and molecular biologists, involved in the understanding of structure formation in living organisms and will also be very useful for scientists working in the field of applied Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology.
E-Book Content
Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology Series Editors: W.E.G. Müller (Managing Editor), Ph. Jeanteur, I. Kostovic, Y. Kuchino, A. Macieira-Coelho, R. E. Rhoads Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York Hong Kong London Milan Paris Tokyo 33 Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology Volumes Published in the Series Volume 13 Molecular and Cellular Enzymology Ph. Jeanteur (Ed.) Volume 14 Biological Response Modifiers: Interferons, Double-Stranded RNA and 2¢,5¢-Oligoadenylates W.E.G. Müller and H.C. Schröder (Eds.) Volume 15 Invertebrate Immunology B. Rinkevich and W.E.G. Müller (Eds.) Volume 16 Apoptosis Y. Kuchino and W.E.G. Müller (Eds.) Volume 17 Signaling Mechanisms in Protozoa and Invertebrates G. Csaba and W.E.G. Müller (Eds.) Volume 18 Cytoplasmic Fate of Messenger RNA Ph. Jeanteur (Ed.) Volume 19 Molecular Evolution: Evidence for Monophyly of Metazoa W.E.G. Müller (Ed.) Volume 20 Inhibitors of Cell Growth A. Macieira-Coelho (Ed.) Volume 21 Molecular Evolution: Towards the Origin of Metazoa W.E.G. Müller (Ed.) Volume 22 Cytoskeleton and Small G Proteins Ph. Jeanteur (Ed.) Volume 23 Inorganic Polyphosphates: Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology H.C. Schröder and W.E.G. Müller (Eds.) Volume 24 Cell Immortalization A. Macieira-Coelho (Ed.) Volume 25 Signaling Through the Cell Matrix A. Macieira-Coelho (Ed.) Volume 26 Signaling Pathways for Translation: Insulin and Nutrients R.E. Rhoads (Ed.) Volume 27 Signaling Pathways for Translation: Stress, Calcium, and Rapamycin R.E. Rhoads (Ed.) Volume 28 Small Stress Proteins A.-P. Arrigo and W.E.G. Müller (Eds.) Volume 29 Protein Degradation in Health and Disease M. Reboud-Ravaux (Ed.) Volume 30 Biology of Aging A. Macieira-Coelho Volume 31 Regulation of Alternative Splicing Philippe Jeanteur (Ed.) Volume 32 Guidance Cues in the Developing Brain I. Kostovic (Ed.) Volume 33 Silicon Biomineralization W.E.G. Müller (Ed.) Werner E. G. Müller (Ed.) Silicon Biomineralization Biology – Biochemistry – Molecular Biology – Biotechnology With 105 Figures, 17 in Color 13 Professor Dr. WERNER E.G. MÜLLER Institut für Physiologische Chemie Abt. Angewandte Molekularbiologie Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Duesbergweg 6 55099 Mainz Germany ISSN 0079-6484 ISBN 978-3-642-62451-3 ISBN 978-3-642-55486-5 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-55486-5 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Silicon biomineralization: biology, bi