Microbial Polysaccharides Template Assembly of Nanocrystal Fibers

Clara S. Chan; Gelsomina De Stasio; Susan A. Welch; Marco Girasole; Bradley N. Frazer; Maria V. Nesterova; Sirine Fakra; Jillian F. Banfield

doi:10.1126/science.1092098

Microbial Polysaccharides Template Assembly of Nanocrystal Fibers

Clara S. Chan, Gelsomina De Stasio, Susan A. Welch, Marco Girasole, Bradley N. Frazer, Maria V. Nesterova, Sirine Fakra, Jillian F. Banfield

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

384 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Biological systems can produce extraordinary inorganic structures and morphologies. The mechanisms of synthesis are poorly understood but are of great interest for engineering novel materials. We use spectromicroscopy to show that microbially generated submicrometer-diameter iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) filaments contain polysaccharides, providing an explanation for the formation of akaganeite pseudo-single crystals with aspect ratios of ∼1000:1. We infer that the cells extrude the polysaccharide strands to localize FeOOH precipitation in proximity to the cell membrane to harness the proton gradient for energy generation. Characterization of organic compounds with high spatial resolution, correlated with mineralogical information, should improve our understanding of biomineralization mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1656-1658
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	303
Issue number	5664
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1092098
Publication status	Published - 12 Mar 2004
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1126/science.1092098

Cite this

@article{4b327f265dcd4de4b5957fdd447ee37e,

title = "Microbial Polysaccharides Template Assembly of Nanocrystal Fibers",

abstract = "Biological systems can produce extraordinary inorganic structures and morphologies. The mechanisms of synthesis are poorly understood but are of great interest for engineering novel materials. We use spectromicroscopy to show that microbially generated submicrometer-diameter iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) filaments contain polysaccharides, providing an explanation for the formation of akaganeite pseudo-single crystals with aspect ratios of ∼1000:1. We infer that the cells extrude the polysaccharide strands to localize FeOOH precipitation in proximity to the cell membrane to harness the proton gradient for energy generation. Characterization of organic compounds with high spatial resolution, correlated with mineralogical information, should improve our understanding of biomineralization mechanisms.",

author = "Chan, {Clara S.} and {De Stasio}, Gelsomina and Welch, {Susan A.} and Marco Girasole and Frazer, {Bradley N.} and Nesterova, {Maria V.} and Sirine Fakra and Banfield, {Jillian F.}",

year = "2004",

month = mar,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1126/science.1092098",

language = "English",

volume = "303",

pages = "1656--1658",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)",

number = "5664",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Microbial Polysaccharides Template Assembly of Nanocrystal Fibers

AU - Chan, Clara S.

AU - De Stasio, Gelsomina

AU - Welch, Susan A.

AU - Girasole, Marco

AU - Frazer, Bradley N.

AU - Nesterova, Maria V.

AU - Fakra, Sirine

AU - Banfield, Jillian F.

PY - 2004/3/12

Y1 - 2004/3/12

N2 - Biological systems can produce extraordinary inorganic structures and morphologies. The mechanisms of synthesis are poorly understood but are of great interest for engineering novel materials. We use spectromicroscopy to show that microbially generated submicrometer-diameter iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) filaments contain polysaccharides, providing an explanation for the formation of akaganeite pseudo-single crystals with aspect ratios of ∼1000:1. We infer that the cells extrude the polysaccharide strands to localize FeOOH precipitation in proximity to the cell membrane to harness the proton gradient for energy generation. Characterization of organic compounds with high spatial resolution, correlated with mineralogical information, should improve our understanding of biomineralization mechanisms.

AB - Biological systems can produce extraordinary inorganic structures and morphologies. The mechanisms of synthesis are poorly understood but are of great interest for engineering novel materials. We use spectromicroscopy to show that microbially generated submicrometer-diameter iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) filaments contain polysaccharides, providing an explanation for the formation of akaganeite pseudo-single crystals with aspect ratios of ∼1000:1. We infer that the cells extrude the polysaccharide strands to localize FeOOH precipitation in proximity to the cell membrane to harness the proton gradient for energy generation. Characterization of organic compounds with high spatial resolution, correlated with mineralogical information, should improve our understanding of biomineralization mechanisms.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542618114&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.1092098

DO - 10.1126/science.1092098

M3 - Article

C2 - 15016997

AN - SCOPUS:1542618114

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 303

SP - 1656

EP - 1658

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5664

ER -

Microbial Polysaccharides Template Assembly of Nanocrystal Fibers

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this