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Direct evidence of the molecular basis for biological silicon transport

Author

Listed:
  • Michael J. Knight

    (School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol)

  • Laura Senior

    (School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol)

  • Bethany Nancolas

    (School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol)

  • Sarah Ratcliffe

    (School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol)

  • Paul Curnow

    (School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol
    BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue)

Abstract

Diatoms are an important group of eukaryotic algae with a curious evolutionary innovation: they sheath themselves in a cell wall made largely of silica. The cellular machinery responsible for silicification includes a family of membrane permeases that recognize and actively transport the soluble precursor of biosilica, silicic acid. However, the molecular basis of silicic acid transport remains obscure. Here, we identify experimentally tractable diatom silicic acid transporter (SIT) homologues and study their structure and function in vitro, enabled by the development of a new fluorescence method for studying substrate transport kinetics. We show that recombinant SITs are Na+/silicic acid symporters with a 1:1 protein: substrate stoichiometry and KM for silicic acid of 20 μM. Protein mutagenesis supports the long-standing hypothesis that four conserved GXQ amino acid motifs are important in SIT function. This marks a step towards a detailed understanding of silicon transport with implications for biogeochemistry and bioinspired materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Knight & Laura Senior & Bethany Nancolas & Sarah Ratcliffe & Paul Curnow, 2016. "Direct evidence of the molecular basis for biological silicon transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11926
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11926
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    Cited by:

    1. Ying Hong & Shiyuan Liu & Xiaodan Yang & Wang Hong & Yao Shan & Biao Wang & Zhuomin Zhang & Xiaodong Yan & Weikang Lin & Xuemu Li & Zehua Peng & Xiaote Xu & Zhengbao Yang, 2024. "A bioinspired surface tension-driven route toward programmed cellular ceramics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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