Molecular Biomineralization

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Metallic Biominerals

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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3. Metallic biominerals

   1. Magnetite Biomineralization in Bacteria

      • Jens Baumgartner, Damien Faivre

      Pages 3-27

   2. Maxi- and Mini-Ferritins: Minerals and Protein Nanocages

      • Loes E. Bevers, Elizabeth C. Theil

      Pages 29-47

   3. Manganese Oxidation by Bacteria: Biogeochemical Aspects

      • P. P. Sujith, P. A. Loka Bharathi

      Pages 49-76

   4. Molecular Biomineralization: Toward an Understanding of the Biogenic Origin of Polymetallic Nodules, Seamount Crusts, and Hydrothermal Vents

      • Xiaohong Wang, Matthias Wiens, Heinz C. Schröder, Ute Schloßmacher, Werner E. G. Müller

      Pages 77-110

4. Biocalcium

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 111-111

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   2. Molecular Basis of Bacterial Calcium Carbonate Precipitation

      • Brunella Perito, Giorgio Mastromei

      Pages 113-139

   3. Principles of Calcium-Based Biomineralization

      • Qingling Feng

      Pages 141-197

   4. Molecular Aspects of Biomineralization of the Echinoderm Endoskeleton

      • P. U. P. A. Gilbert, Fred H. Wilt

      Pages 199-223

   5. Echinoderms as Blueprints for Biocalcification: Regulation of Skeletogenic Genes and Matrices

      • Valeria Matranga, Rosa Bonaventura, Caterina Costa, Konstantinos Karakostis, Annalisa Pinsino, Roberta Russo et al.

      Pages 225-248

5. Biosilica – and its Application

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 249-249

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6. Biosilica – and its application

   1. The Unique Invention of the Siliceous Sponges: Their Enzymatically Made Bio-Silica Skeleton

      • Werner E. G. Müller, Xiaohong Wang, Ailin Chen, Shixue Hu, Lu Gan, Heinz C. Schröder et al.

      Pages 251-281

   2. Biosilica-Based Strategies for Treatment of Osteoporosis and Other Bone Diseases

      • Heinz C. Schröder, Matthias Wiens, Xiaohong Wang, Ute Schloßmacher, Werner E. G. Müller

      Pages 283-312

7. Nacre

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 313-313

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   2. Structure and Function of Matrix Proteins and Peptides in the Biomineral Formation in Crustaceans

      • Hiromichi Nagasawa

      Pages 315-329

   3. Molecular Approaches to Understand Biomineralization of Shell Nacreous Layer

      • Li-ping Xie, Fang-jie Zhu, Yu-juan Zhou, Chao Yang, Rong-qing Zhang

      Pages 331-352

   4. Acidic Shell Proteins of the Mediterranean Fan Mussel Pinna nobilis

      • Frédéric Marin, Prabakaran Narayanappa, Sébastien Motreuil

      Pages 353-395

8. Back Matter

   Pages 397-403

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The concept of ‘biomineralization’ signifies mineralization processes that take place in close association with organic molecules or matrices. The awareness that mineral formation can be guided by organic molecules notably contributed to the understanding of the formation of the inorganic skeletons of living organisms. Modern electron microscopic and spectroscopic analyses have successfully demonstrated the participation of biological systems in several mineralization processes, and prominent examples include the formation of bio-silica in diatoms and sponges. This insight has already made the application of recombinant technology for the production of valuable inorganic polymers, such as bio-silica, possible. This polymer can be formed by silicatein under conditions that cannot be matched by chemical means. Similarly, the efforts described in this book have elucidated that certain organisms, bacteria in deep-sea polymetallic nodules and coccoliths in seamount crusts, are involved in the deposition of marine minerals. Strategies have already been developed to utilize such microorganisms for the biosynthesis and bioleaching of marine deposits. Moreover, studies reveal that bio-polymers enhance the hydroxyapatite formation of bone-forming cells and alter the expression of important regulators of bone resorption, suggesting a potential for bone regeneration and treatment / prevention of osteoporosis.

• Bio-silica
• Biocalcification
• Biomaterials
• Biomineralization
• Crustaceans
• Echinoderms
• Osteoporosis
• Porifera

• Inst. Physiologische Chemie, Abt. Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany

  Werner E. G. Müller

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