Silicatein: nanobiotechnological and biomedical applications.
Silica-based materials are used in many high-tech products including microelectronics, optoelectronics, and catalysts. Siliceous sponges (Demospongiae and Hexactinellida) are unique in their ability to synthesize silica enzymatically. We have cloned the silica-forming enzymes, silicateins, from both demosponges (marine and freshwater sponges) and hexactinellid sponges. The recombinant enzymes allow the synthesis of silica under environmentally benign ambient conditions, while the technical (chemical) production of silica commonly requires high temperatures and pressures, and extremes of pH. Silicateins can be used for the fabrication of highly-ordered inorganic-organic composite materials with defined optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. The simple self-assembly properties of silicateins which are able to form silica and other metal oxides in aqueous solution allow the development of novel products in nano(bio)technology, medicine, and dentistry.
Schröder
Heinz C
HC
Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie Universität, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz D-55099, Germany. hschroed@uni-mainz.de
Schlossmacher
Ute
U
Boreiko
Alexandra
A
Natalio
Filipe
F
Baranowska
Malgorzata
M
Brandt
David
D
Wang
Xiaohong
X
Tremel
Wolfgang
W
Wiens
Matthias
M
Müller
Werner E G
WE
D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry; D055100:Optical Fibers; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C009495:titanium dioxide; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; D002403:Cathepsins; C028541:zirconium oxide