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Analytical studies of silica biomineralization: towards an understanding of silica processing by diatoms

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 84, pages 607–616 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Diatoms have continued to attract research interest over a long time. One important reason for this research interest is the amazingly beautiful microstructured and nanostructured patterning of the silica-based diatom cell walls. These materials become increasingly important from the materials science point of view. However, many aspects of diatom cell wall formation and patterning are still not fully understood. The present minireview article summarizes our recent knowledge especially with respect to two major topics related to diatom cell wall formation and patterning: (1) uptake and metabolism of silicon by living diatom cells and (2) understanding of the genetic control of cell wall formation. Analytical techniques as well as recent results concerning these two topics are highlighted in this review.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Mr. R. Hedrich (Dresden) for providing us with the SEM images of S. turris. The authors also wish to thank Ms. A. Bachmann and Ms. R. Schulze for carefully proofreading the manuscript. Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Project Br 1278/12-3) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Affiliations

  1. TU Dresden, Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Bioanalytische Chemie, 01062, Dresden, Germany

    Eike Brunner, Patrick Richthammer & Katrin Spinde

  2. Institut für Biophysik und Physikalische Biochemie, Universität Regensburg, 93040, Regensburg, Germany

    Christian Gröger

  3. Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany

    Katharina Lutz

  4. Lehrstuhl für Biochemie I, Universität Regensburg, 93040, Regensburg, Germany

    Manfred Sumper

  5. TU Dresden, Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Bioanalytische Chemie, 01062, Dresden, Germany

    Eike Brunner

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  1. Eike Brunner
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  2. Christian Gröger
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  3. Katharina Lutz
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  4. Patrick Richthammer
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Correspondence to Eike Brunner.

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Brunner, E., Gröger, C., Lutz, K. et al. Analytical studies of silica biomineralization: towards an understanding of silica processing by diatoms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 84, 607–616 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2140-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2140-3

Keywords

  • Biomineralization
  • Diatoms
  • Microstructure and nanostucture
  • Silicon metabolism
  • Analytical methods