Enzymatic production of biosilica glass using enzymes from sponges: basic aspects and application in nanobiotechnology (material sciences and medicine).
Biomineralization, biosilicification in particular (i.e. the formation of biogenic silica, SiO2), has become an exciting source of inspiration for the development of novel bionic approaches following "nature as model". Siliceous sponges are unique among silica forming organisms in their ability to catalyze silica formation using a specific enzyme termed silicatein. In this study, we review the present state of knowledge on silicatein-mediated "biosilica" formation in marine sponges, the involvement of further molecules in silica metabolism and their potential application in nanobiotechnology and medicine.
Schröder
Heinz C
HC
Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz, Germany. hschroed@uni-mainz.de
Brandt
David
D
Schlossmacher
Ute
U
Wang
Xiaohong
X
Tahir
Muhammad Nawaz
MN
Tremel
Wolfgang
W
Belikov
Sergey I
SI
Müller
Werner E G
WE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011161:Porifera / Q000201:enzymology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
C112571:silicatein alpha; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002403:Cathepsins