This first comprehensive overview of the modern aspects of biomineralization represents life and materials science at its best: Bioinspired pathways are the hot topics in many disciplines and this holds especially true for biomineralization. Here, the editor has assembled an international team of renowned authors to provide first-hand research results. This first of three volumes deals with the biology of biominerals structure formation, with sections on silica-hydrated polysilicondioxide, iron sulfides and oxides, calcium carbonates and sulfates, as well as calcium phosphates. An interdisciplinary must-have account, for biochemists, bioinorganic chemists, lecturers in chemistry and biochemistry, materials scientists, biologists, and solid state physicists.

Table of Contents

Growth and Form: What is the Aim of Biomineralization SILICA-HYDRATED POLYSILICONDIOXIDE Collagen, a Huge Matrix in Glass Sponge Flexible Spicules of the Meter-long Hyalonema Sieboldi Molecular Genetic and Biochemical Tools for the Analysis of Diatom Cell Wall Formation Formation of Siliceous Spicules in the Marine Demosponge Suberites Domuncula Development of Advanced Mechanical Defenses of Diatom Shells Evolution of Diatoms Uptake of Silicon in Different Plant Species IRON SULFIDES AND OXIDES Magnetic Microstructure of Magnetotactic Bacteria An Archeal Ferritin: First Step in its Iron Cluster Formation Physiology and Genetics of Magnetite Crystal Formation in Magnetotactic Bacteria Physical and Chemical Principles of Magnetosensation in Biology CALCIUM CARBONATES AND SULFATES The Morphogenesis and Biomineralization of Sea Urchin Laval Spicules Coccolith Formation in Pleurochrysis Carterae: Structural and Molecular Approaches Molecular Approaches to Emiliana Huxleyi Coccolith Formation Organic Matrix and Biomineralization of Scleractinian Corals Statoliths, Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate Crystals, are Used for Gravity Sensing in Scyphozoan Medusa (Cnidaria) Unusually Acidic Proteins in Biomineralization Fish Otolith Calcification in Relation to Endolymph Chemistry Eggshell Growth and Matrix Proteins CALCIUM PHOSPHATES Genetic Basis for the Evolution of Vertebrate Mineralized Tissue Skeletogenesis in Zebra Fish Embryos (Danio Rerio) Synchroton-Radiation Based Micro Computer Tomography Applied on Zebra Fish Bone and Teeth Mechanical and Structural Properties of Skeletal Bone in Wild-Type and Mutant Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio) Nanoscale Mechanism of Bone Deformation and Fracture Formation and Structure of Calciprotein Particles: The Calcium Phosphate-Ahsg/FetuinA Interphase

Author Biography

Edmund Bauerlein was was born in 1932, studied chemistry in Saarbrucken, Munich, and Frankfurt (Germany) and he completed his PhD with Prof. Th. Wieland on biologically relevant hydroquinones. He then moved to the Max Planck Institute for medical research, Heidelberg (Germany), as a research group leader, completed his Habilitation at the University of Heidelberg in 1974, where he was appointed Professor in 1980. In 1984 he moved to the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Munich, department membrane biochemistry, where he was research group leader. He edited two successful books about biomineralization. Peter Behrens, born in 1957, studied chemistry and did his Ph.D. at the University of Hamburg. He did his Habilitation at the University of Constance and University of California (Prof. Stucky). In 1994 he was appointed Professor for Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Munich, afterwards in Hannover. He is member of the Braunschweigische Scientific Society, President of the German Zeolite Association and member of the Board of the European Zeolite Associations and reviewer for several national and international foundations and journals. His research interests include porous materials, biomaterials, hybrid and composite materials, synthesis of materials as well as biomineralization. Matthias Epple is born in 1966, studied chemistry at the University of Braunschweig, did his Diploma and Ph. D. in physical and theoretical chemistry (Prof. Cammenga). For postdocs he moved to Prof. Berg, Univeristy of Washington, Seattle, Prof. Reller, University of Hamburg, and Sir J. M. Thomas, London. He was appointedProfessor at the University of Augsburg, Bochum and now Duisburg-Essen for Inorganic Chemistry. He received several awards, e.g. Netzsch-GEFTA Young Scientist Award, Heisenberg Grant and Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Award by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. His research interests include the development and application of biomaterials, biomimetic crystallization, application of synchrotron-based methods, synthesis of nanoparticles and reactivity of solid compounds.