Biomineralization

Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals, often to harden or stiffen existing tissues. It is an extremely widespread phenomenon; all six taxonomic kingdoms contain members that are able to form minerals, and over 60 different minerals have been identified in organisms. Examples include silicates in algae and diatoms, carbonates in invertebrates, and calcium phosphates and carbonates in vertebrates. These minerals often form structural features such as sea shells and the bone in mammals and birds. Organisms have been producing mineralised skeletons for the past 550 million years. Other examples include copper, iron and gold deposits involving bacteria. Biologically-formed minerals often have special uses such as magnetic sensors in magnetotactic bacteria (Fe3O4), gravity sensing devices (CaCO3, CaSO4, BaSO4) and iron storage and mobilization (Fe2O3•H2O in the protein ferritin). In terms of taxonomic distribution, the most common biominerals are the phosphate and carbonate salts of calcium that are used in conjunction with organic polymers such as collagen and chitin to give structural support to bones and shells. The structures of these biocomposite materials are highly controlled from the nanometer to the macroscopic level, resulting in complex architectures that provide multifunctional properties. Because this range of control over mineral growth is desirable for materials engineering applications, there is significant interest in understanding and elucidating the mechanisms of biologically controlled biomineralization. Biominerals perform a variety of roles in organisms, the most important being support, defence and feeding.

Biomineral Properties

Further information:

1. Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel and Roland K.O. Sigel, ed (2008). Biomineralization: From Nature to Application. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 4. Wiley.
2. Boskey, AL (1998). "Biomineralization: conflicts, challenges, and opportunities". Journal of cellular biochemistry. Supplement 30-31: 83–91.
3.  Sarikaya, M (1999). "Biomimetics: materials fabrication through biology". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 96 (25): 14183–5.
4.   Schulz, K.; Zondervan, I.; Gerringa, L.; Timmermans, K.; Veldhuis, M.; Riebesell, U. (2004). "Effect of trace metal availability on coccolithophorid calcification.". Nature 430 (7000): 673–676.
5. Anghileri, LJ; Maincent, P; Cordova-Martinez, A (1993). "On the mechanism of soft tissue calcification induced by complexed iron". Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie 45 (5-6): 365–8.
6. Zhuravlev, A. Y.; Wood, R. A. (2008). "Eve of biomineralization: Controls on skeletal mineralogy". Geology 36: 923.
7. Jackson, D.; McDougall, C.; Woodcroft, B.; Moase, P.; Rose, R.; Kube, M.; Reinhardt, R.; Rokhsar, D. et al. (2010). "Parallel evolution of nacre building gene sets in molluscs". Molecular biology and evolution 27 (3): 591–608.
8.  Яхонтова Л. К., Зверева В. П. Основы минералогии гипергенеза: Учеб. пособие. Владивосток: Дальнаука, 2000. 331 с.
9. Article Biomineralization from Wikipedia, the Free Enciclopedia. Available under the license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike.

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