6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bb3dc
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Molecular Mechanism of Spicule Formation in the Demosponge Suberites domuncula: Silicatein-Collagen-Myotrophin
Heinz C. SchröderGaël Le PennecWerner E. G. M�llerRenate SteffenMohammed S. A. AmmarMatthias WiensAnatoli KraskoIsabel M. Müllersubject
Siliceous spongeSpiculeeducation.field_of_studybiologychemistry.chemical_elementCalciumbiology.organism_classificationSuberites domunculaMyotrophinSponge spiculeDemospongeBiochemistrychemistryProtozoaeducationdescription
In living organisms four major groups of biominerals exist: (1) iron compounds, which are restricted primarily to Prokaryota; (2) calcium phosphates, found in Metazoa; (3) calcium carbonates, used by Prokaryota, Protozoa, Plantae, Fungi and Metazoa and (4) silica (opal) present in sponges and diatoms (reviewed in: Bengtson 1994; Baeuerlein 2000). It is surprising that the occurrence of silica as a major skeletal element is restricted to some Protozoa and to sponges (Porifera). The element silicon (Si) contributes to 28% of the earth crust and is - after oxygen - the second most abundant element on earth (Windholz 1983).
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-01-01 |