Nanoforms: a new type of protein-associated mineralization

Vali, Hojatollah; McKee, Marc D.; Çiftçioğlu, Neva; Sears, S. Kelly; Plows, Fiona L.; Chevet, Éric; Ghiabi, Pegah; Plavsic, Marc; Kajander, E. Olavi; Zare, Richard N.

doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(00)00525-1

Cited by 55 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…SEM and TEM sample preparation was described earlier (26). A 1230 TEM (JEOL) and S3000N SEM (Hitachi) were used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used the same method coupled to SEM observations (as described in ref. 26) to study the impact of various treatments on their growth. We first confirmed that DMEM alone did not produce any increase of optical density after prolonged incubation up to 1 month, in line with published results (20), indicating that there is the need for some seeding factor in the medium to generate the published optical density change.…”

Section: Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles Morphologically Similar Tomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Purported nanobacteria in human blood as calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Martel

Young

2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

130

155

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Recent evidence suggests a role for nanobacteria in a growing number of human diseases, including renal stone formation, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This large body of research studies promotes the view that nanobacteria are not only alive but that they are associated with disease pathogenesis. However, it is still unclear whether they represent novel life forms, overlooked nanometer-size bacteria, or some other primitive self-replicating microorganisms. Here, we report that CaCO 3 precipitates prepared in vitro are remarkably similar to purported nanobacteria in terms of their uniformly sized, membrane-delineated vesicular shapes, with cellular division-like formations and aggregations in the form of colonies. The gradual appearance of nanobacteria-like particles in incubated human serum as well as the changes seen with their size and shape can be influenced and explained by introducing varying levels of CO 2 and NaHCO 3 as well as other conditions known to influence the precipitation of CaCO 3 . Western blotting reveals that the monoclonal antibodies, claimed to be specific for nanobacteria, react in fact with serum albumin. Furthermore, nanobacteria-like particles obtained from human blood are able to withstand high doses of γ-irradiation up to 30 kGy, and no bacterial DNA is found by performing broad-range PCR amplifications. Collectively, our results provide a more plausible abiotic explanation for the unusual properties of purported nanobacteria.

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“…SEM and TEM sample preparation was described earlier (26). A 1230 TEM (JEOL) and S3000N SEM (Hitachi) were used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles Morphologically Similar Tomentioning

confidence: 99%

Purported nanobacteria in human blood as calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Martel

Young

2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

130

155

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“…The small size (< 1 µm) of many of the encrusted filaments and sheets suggests that extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) as well as cell surfaces and clay particles may have acted as nucleation sites. EPS are readily mineralized both in the laboratory (Vali et al, 2001) and in a variety of modern and ancient environments (Smythe, 2015;Westall et al, 2000 and references therein). EPS have also been suggested as the nucleation mechanism for exceptionally well preserved biogenic Mn oxides in speleothems (Lozano and Rossi, 2012).…”

Section: Mountain City Windowmentioning

confidence: 99%

New insight into the origin of manganese oxide ore deposits in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge of northeastern Tennessee and northern Virginia, USA

Carmichael

Doctor

Wilson

et al. 2017

Geological Society of America Bulletin

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Manganese oxide deposits have long been observed in association with carbonates within the Appalachian Mountains, but their origin has remained enigmatic for well over a century. Ore deposits of Mn oxides from several productive sites located in eastern Tennessee and northern Virginia display morphologies that include botryoidal and branching forms, massive nodules, breccia matrix cements, and fracture fills. The primary ore minerals include hollandite, cryptomelane, and romanèchite. Samples of Mn oxides from multiple localities in these regions were analyzed using electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and trace/rare earth element geochemistry. The samples from eastern Tennessee have biological morphologies, contain residual biopolymers, and exhibit REE signatures that suggest the ore formation was due to supergene enrichment (likely coupled with microbial activity). In contrast, several northern Virginia ores hosted within quartz-sandstone breccias exhibit petrographic relations, mineral morphologies, and REE signatures indicating inorganic precipitation, and a likely hydrothermal origin with supergene overprinting. Nodular accumulations of Mn oxides within weathered alluvial deposits that occur near to breccia-hosted Mn deposits in Virginia show geochemical signatures that are distinct from the breccia matrices, and appear to reflect remobilization of earlier-emplaced Mn and concentration within supergene traps. Based on the proximity of all of the productive ore deposits to mapped faults or other zones of deformation, we suggest that the primary source of all of the Mn may have been deep-seated, and that Mn oxides with supergene and/or biological characteristics result from the local remobilization and concentration of this primary Mn. Carmichael ABSTRACTManganese oxide deposits have long been observed in association with carbonates within the Appalachian Mountains, but their origin has remained enigmatic for well over a century. Ore deposits of Mn oxides from several productive sites located in eastern Tennessee and northern Virginia display morphologies that include botryoidal and branching forms, massive nodules, breccia matrix cements, and fracture fills. The primary ore minerals include hollandite, cryptomelane, and romanèchite. Samples of Mn oxides from multiple localities in these regions were analyzed using electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and trace/rare earth element geochemistry. The samples from eastern Tennessee have biological morphologies, contain residual biopolymers, and exhibit REE signatures that suggest the ore formation was due to supergene enrichment (likely coupled with microbial activity). In contrast, several northern Virginia ores hosted within quartz-sandstone breccias exhibit petrographic relations, mineral morphologies, and REE signatures indicating inorganic precipitation, and a likely hydrothermal origin with supergene overprinting. Nodular accumulations of Mn oxides within weathered al...

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“…Reitner (2004) already pointed out that meteorites might contain abiotic organomineral products, which thus could not be regarded as biosignatures. Other authors have also shown that nonbiological organic molecules may induce the formation of minerals resembling the components of extraterrestrial bodies that are interpreted as biologically induced minerals, in particular fossilized 'nan(n)obacteria' (Kirkland et al, 1999;Cisar et al, 2000;Vali et al, 2001). Organominerals sensu Défarge and Trichet (1995), and more generally organiccontaining minerals, cannot be considered as indicators of life until the biotic origin of their organic components and their mechanism of formation have been unequivocally deciphered.…”

Section: Applications To the Search For Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an astrobiological perspective, it remains necessary to distinguish between minerals associated with by-products of life, minerals formed through prebiotic processes, and minerals that could have served as matrices for the prebiotic or abiotic formation of associated organic compounds (Westall et al, 2000;Vali et al, 2001;Hazen, 2006).…”

Section: Applications To the Search For Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Defining organominerals: Comment on ‘Defining biominerals and organominerals: Direct and indirect indicators of life’ by Perry et al. (2007, Sedimentary Geology, 201, 157–179)

Défarge

Gautret

Reitner

et al. 2009

Sedimentary Geology

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The paper by Perry et al. (2007, Defining biominerals and organominerals: Direct and indirect indicators of life, Sedimentary Geology, 201, 157-179) proposes to introduce "the new term 'organomineral'" to describe mineral products whose formation is induced by byproducts of biological activity, dead and decaying organisms, or nonbiological organic compounds, to be distinguished from the biomineral components of living organisms. The substantive 'organomineral', however, is not new: it was first introduced in 1993, with basically the same definition and distinction from biominerals, at the 7th International Symposium on Biomineralization (Défarge and Trichet, 1995, From biominerals to

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Nanoforms: a new type of protein-associated mineralization

Cited by 55 publications

References 53 publications

Purported nanobacteria in human blood as calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Purported nanobacteria in human blood as calcium carbonate nanoparticles

New insight into the origin of manganese oxide ore deposits in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge of northeastern Tennessee and northern Virginia, USA

Defining organominerals: Comment on ‘Defining biominerals and organominerals: Direct and indirect indicators of life’ by Perry et al. (2007, Sedimentary Geology, 201, 157–179)

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