Silicanin-1 is a conserved diatom membrane protein involved in silica biomineralization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Biological mineral formation (biomineralization) proceeds in specialized compartments often bounded by a lipid bilayer membrane. Currently, the role of membranes in biomineralization is hardly understood.

Results

Investigating biomineralization of SiO₂ (silica) in diatoms we identified Silicanin-1 (Sin1) as a conserved diatom membrane protein present in silica deposition vesicles (SDVs) of Thalassiosira pseudonana. Fluorescence microscopy of GFP-tagged Sin1 enabled, for the first time, to follow the intracellular locations of a biomineralization protein during silica biogenesis in vivo. The analysis revealed incorporation of the N-terminal domain of Sin1 into the biosilica via association with the organic matrix inside the SDVs. In vitro experiments sho

SUBMITTER: Kotzsch A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5525289 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature