title: Formation of silicones mediated by the sponge enzyme silicatein-α.
abstract: The sponge-restricted enzyme silicatein-α catalyzes in vivo silica formation from monomeric silicon compounds from sea water (i.e. silicic acid) and plays the pivotal role during synthesis of the siliceous sponge spicules. Recombinant silicatein-α, which was cloned from the demosponge Suberites domuncula (phylum Porifera), is shown to catalyze in vitro condensation of alkoxy silanes during a phase transfer reaction at neutral pH and ambient temperature to yield silicones like the straight-chained polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The reported condensation reaction is considered to be the first description of an enzymatically enhanced organometallic condensation reaction.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlossmacher
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietuch
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mathiasch
authors.forename: Heinz-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Werner E G
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tremel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055162:Biocatalysis; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011161:Porifera / Q000201:enzymology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012821:Silanes; D012828:Silicones; C112571:silicatein alpha; C013830:baysilon; D002403:Cathepsins