Crystalline nanorods as possible templates for the synthesis of amorphous biosilica during spicule formation in Demospongiae.
High-resolution microscopy shows that, during the initial stages of demosponge spicule formation, a primordial crystalline structure is formed within the axial filament. The recently developed electron diffraction tomography technique reveals that the nanorods have a layered structure that matches smectitic phyllosilicates. These intracellular nanorods have been considered as precursors of mature spicules.
Mugnaioli
Enrico
E
Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Welderweg 11, Mainz, Germany.
Natalio
Filipe
F
Schlossmacher
Ute
U
Wang
Xiaohong
X
Müller
Werner E G
WE
Kolb
Ute
U
D000818:Animals; D004583:Electrons; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes; D011161:Porifera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D012822:Silicon Dioxide