CAREER: Molecular Analysis of Silica Biomineralization in Diatoms

ID: MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623) 0845939 PI: Kroeger， Nils ORG: Georgia TechTitle：职业：硅藻中二氧化硅生物矿化的分子分析知识产权：生物矿化是在生物体控制下形成的无机材料。生物矿化最突出的例子是硅藻，这是一种单细胞真核微藻，产生由无定形SiO2（二氧化硅）组成的复杂结构的细胞壁。复杂的三维纳米硅藻二氧化硅形状是在遗传控制下形成的，因此是生物形态发生的多功能性和精确性的壮观例子，远远超过了当今材料工程的能力。因此，了解硅藻中二氧化硅生物矿化的分子机制不仅可以为生物形态发生机制提供基本的见解，而且还可以为合成具有纳米级特征和功能的二氧化硅基3D材料提供新的生物技术途径。通过利用两个硅藻基因组序列和相关功能基因组学研究提供的丰富数据，本项目的研究旨在鉴定一组新的参与二氧化硅形成的生物矿化蛋白。这些蛋白质将被表征为它们在细胞内的位置、化学结构、自组装特性以及对二氧化硅形成的影响。本研究将首次通过生物化学分离和表征介导生物矿化蛋白向硅沉积囊泡细胞内转运的受体蛋白，从实验角度探讨硅沉积囊泡（SDV）生物发生的分子机制。这将为分析蛋白质传递到SDV的控制及其对二氧化硅形态形成的影响奠定基础，从而首次尝试研究二氧化硅生物矿化的复杂动力学。更广泛的影响：本研究项目独特地整合了生物学、化学和材料科学，将作为一个中心主题，在学生教育的两个关键十字路口：高中到大学的界面和大学到研究生院的界面，加强跨学科教育和研究经验。在高中到大学的衔接环节中，来自弱势群体的学生通过与当地学校的合作得到了明确的定位。早期大学学院？(十)。它旨在通过每年的夏季研讨会来提高DECA学生对科学的兴趣？分子生物学?这使他们能够发现科学的跨学科和有趣的本质。这一活动的可持续性通过教师和高中生实习以及为讲习班建立网络课程来保证。在学院和研究生院的衔接方面，化学和工程专业学生的生物科学教育将通过开发新的跨学科研讨会和实验课程来推进，突出这些学科之间的交叉联系。

ID: MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623) 0845939 PI: Kroeger, Nils ORG: Georgia TechTitle: CAREER: Molecular Analysis of Silica Biomineralization in DiatomsINTELLECTUAL MERIT: Biomineralization is the formation of inorganic materials under control of a living organism. Among the most prominent examples of biomineralization are the diatoms, which are unicellular eukaryotic microalgae producing intricately structured cell walls made of amorphous SiO2 (silica). The complex 3D-nanopatterned silica shapes of diatoms are formed under genetic control, thus being spectacular examples for the versatility and precision of biological morphogenesis, which by far exceeds the capabilities of present day materials engineering. Understanding the molecular mechanism of silica biomineralization in diatoms will therefore not only provide fundamental insight into the mechanism of biological morphogenesis, but also devise novel, biotechnological routes for the synthesis of silica-based 3D materials with designed nanoscopic features and functionalities. By taking advantage of the wealth of data provided by two diatom genome sequences and associated functional genomics studies, the research in this project aims to identify a large set of new biomineralization proteins involved in silica formation. The proteins will be characterized regarding their intracellular locations, chemical structures, self-assembly properties, and influence on silica formation. This research will for the first time experimentally address the molecular mechanism of silicon deposition vesicle (SDV) biogenesis by biochemical isolation and characterization of receptor proteins that mediate the intracellular transport of biomineralization proteins to the SDV. This will lay the foundation for analyzing the control of protein delivery to the SDV and its effect on silica morphogenesis, and thus represents a first attempt towards investigating the complex dynamics of silica biomineralization.BROADER IMPACTS: The unique integration of Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science in this research project will be utilized as a central theme to enhance interdisciplinary education and research experience at two critical crossroads of student education: the high school to college interface and the college to graduate school interface. At the high school to college interface students from underrepresented groups are specifically targeted through collaboration with a local ?Early College Academy? (DECA). It is aimed to enhance interest of DECA students in science by annual summer workshops on ?Molecular Biology? that allows them to discover the interdisciplinary and playful nature of science. Sustainability of this activity is ensured by internships for teachers and high school students, and by the establishment of a web-based curriculum for the workshop. At the college to graduate school interface, education in the Biological Sciences of students from Chemistry and Engineering will be advanced by developing a novel interdisciplinary seminar and laboratory course that highlights the cross-connections between these disciplines.