Morphogenesis of hierarchically patterned diatom biosilica: theory and experiment

分层图案硅藻生物硅的形态发生：理论与实验

• 批准号: 536338480
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Benjamin M. Friedrich
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/536338480?language=en
• 关键词: Morphogenesis; hierarchically; patterned; diatom; biosilica

The intricate silica patterns of diatom cell walls have fascinated biologists for their genetically encoded variability and structural intricacy, engineers for their application potential, and natural scientists and laymen alike for their beauty. Yet, we do not understand the physical and chemical principles that guide the self-organized formation of biosilica patterns with regularly spaced ribs and nano-pores, nor are structures of similar complexity accessible through material synthesis today. We aim to reveal general principles of biosilica pattern formation across centric diatom species. To achieve this, we propose a combination of physics-guided mathematical modeling and targeted genetic perturbation experiments to mechanistically understand how hierarchical biosilica patterns form inside a growing compartment. This project has become possible through recent advances in experimental analysis of diatom silica morphogenesis. It builds on an established collaboration between the Kröger and Friedrich groups resulting in a model for the formation of branched rib patterns in a key diatom species. We aim for an integrated model in the form of a phase-separating reaction-diffusion system in a growing two-dimensional domain that quantitatively accounts for (i) branched rib patterns, (ii) transverse connections between ribs, and (iii) regularly positioned pores, where interpretable changes of model parameters account for different silica valve patterns in three prototypical diatom species with radial symmetry. Using diatoms as model system, we will advance a general understanding how the genetically-encoded organic machineries of living cells sculpture inorganic minerals.

硅藻细胞壁的错综复杂的二氧化硅图案因其遗传编码的可变性和结构复杂性而令生物学家着迷，工程师因其应用潜力而着迷，自然科学家和外行人因其美观而着迷。然而，我们并不了解指导具有规则间隔的肋骨和纳米孔的生物二氧化硅图案自组织形成的物理和化学原理，也不能通过今天的材料合成来获得类似复杂的结构。我们的目标是揭示生物硅跨中心硅藻物种形成的一般原理。为了实现这一点，我们提出了一个物理指导的数学建模和有针对性的遗传扰动实验相结合的方法，以机械地理解层次化的生物硅模式是如何在一个不断增长的隔间内形成的。通过硅藻二氧化硅形态发生的实验分析的最新进展，这一项目成为可能。它建立在Kröger和Friedrich小组之间已建立的合作基础上，从而形成了一个在关键硅藻物种中形成分枝肋状图案的模型。我们的目标是在一个不断增长的二维区域中建立一个相分离反应-扩散系统的形式的集成模型，该模型定量地解释了(I)分枝的肋骨图案，(Ii)肋骨之间的横向连接和(Iii)规则定位的孔，其中模型参数的可解释变化解释了三个具有径向对称性的典型硅藻物种中不同的硅阀图案。以硅藻为模型系统，我们将推进对活细胞的遗传编码的有机机制如何雕刻无机矿物的总体理解。