On the function of chitin synthase extracellular domains in biomineralization

Weiss, Ingrid M.; Lüke, Florian; Eichner, Norbert; Guth, Christina; Clausen‐Schaumann, Hauke

doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2013.04.011

Cited by 30 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The nacre, located at both the inner shell layer and outer coating of pearls, has long been appreciated for its beauty, but the mechanisms of nacre formation remain unclear. Chitin is an important organic component of the insect cuticle and mollusk nacre (Merzendorfer, 2006;Weiss et al, 2013). In this study, we identified a CS gene from the triangle sail mussel, and we found that it shared similar characteristics with CS homologs from seawater mussels and insects in both sequence and structure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Characterization and functional analysis of a chitin synthase gene (HcCS1) identified from the freshwater pearlmussel Hyriopsis cumingii

Lin

et al. 2015

Genet. Mol. Res.

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ABSTRACT. The triangle sail mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii, is the most important freshwater pearl mussel in China. However, the mechanisms underlying its chitin-mediated shell and nacre formation remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized a chitin synthase (CS) gene (HcCS1) in H. cumingii, and analyzed its possible physiological function. The complete ORF sequence of HcCS1 contained 6903 bp, encoding a 2300-amino acid protein (theoretical molecular mass = 264 kDa; isoelectric point = 6.22), and no putative signal peptide was predicted. A myosin motor head domain, a CS domain, and 12 transmembrane domains were found. The predicted spatial structures of the myosin head and CS domains were similar to the electron microscopic structure of the heavy meromyosin subfragment 19264-19274 (2015) of chicken smooth muscle myosin and the crystal structure of bacterial cellulose synthase, respectively. This structural similarity indicates that the functions of these two domains might be conserved. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR results showed that HcCS1 was present in all detected tissues, with the highest expression levels detected in the mantle. The HcCS1 transcripts in the mantle were upregulated following shell damage from 12 to 24 h post-damage, and they peaked (approximately 1.5-fold increase) at 12 h after shell damage. These findings suggest that HcCS1 was involved in shell regeneration, and that it might participate in shell and nacre formation in this species via chitin synthesis. HcCS1 might also dynamically regulate chitin deposition during the process of shell and nacre formation with the help of its conserved myosin head domain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Characterization and functional analysis of a chitin synthase gene (HcCS1) identified from the freshwater pearlmussel Hyriopsis cumingii

Lin

et al. 2015

Genet. Mol. Res.

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“…We are also interested to see whether the molecular features of these peptides (pI 9, pI 10) could be differentiated by using the microfluidic biosensor system sam ® X. The buffer substance glycylglycine (Gly–Gly) is used to maintain the pH values 7.75, 8.2 and 9.0, similar to the previous studies [46,48]. The peptide AS8 represents a modified version of the peptide ES9 with only two differences in the length and in the substitution of two glutamic acid residues by alanines [46].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ES9 peptide is derived from E22, one of four major extracellular loops of an enzyme involved in biomineralization [20,47]. Previous experiments suggest that self-assembly of E22 is fine-tuned in accordance with pH changes that may occur as a function of the mineral precipitation and dissolution [48]. Since no equivalent real-time information regarding the deposition of calcium carbonate on carboxylate-SAMs below the equilibrium solubility is available from the literature, we started our investigation and described our results in detail with the particular aim to inspire similar investigations in biomineralization research in the future.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time monitoring of calcium carbonate and cationic peptide deposition on carboxylate-SAM using a microfluidic SAW biosensor

Pohl¹,

Weiss²

2014

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol.

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SummaryA microfluidic biosensor with surface acoustic wave technology was used in this study to monitor the interaction of calcium carbonate with standard carboxylate self-assembled monolayer sensor chips. Different fluids, with and without biomolecular components, were investigated. The pH-dependent surface interactions of two bio-inspired cationic peptides, AS8 and ES9, which are similar to an extracellular domain of the chitin synthase involved in mollusc shell formation, were also investigated in a biological buffer system. A range of experimental conditions are described that are suitable to study non-covalent molecular interactions in the presence of ionic substances, such as, mineral precursors below the solubility equilibrium. The peptide ES9, equal to the mollusc chitin synthase epitope, is less sensitive to changes in pH than its counterpart AS8 with a penta-lysine core, which lacks the flanking acidic residues. This study demonstrates the extraordinary potential of microfluidic surface acoustic wave biosensors to significantly expand our experimental capabilities for studying the principles underlying biomineralization in vitro.

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“…Conclusively we can say that mechano-sensory response phenomena are shared by other biological systems, where similar or even more pronounced functional dependencies can be found, as the stress sensitivity to the extracellular matrix guides developmental processes of single cells and tissues [43,44,[128][129][130]]. An interesting example, which is still not well understood, is the biomineralization process of calcium carbonates, as found in many invertebrate biominerals such as alveolar plates of ciliates (single-cell eukaryotic micro-organism) [131] and mollusk shells.…”

Section: Passive Control Of Heart Tissue By Soft Materialsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The latter in particular is still not understood in terms of mechano-sensory response to the extremely hard shell (∼GPa). A soft tissue (∼kPa) controls the formation of a fine textured 3D structure (polysaccharide-containing ECM) into which mineral is deposited [130], mediated by local transmembrane proteins and myosin motor domains [129]. Mechanical sensing has been suggested to include a myosin chitin synthase with direct cytoskeletal interaction [132], similar as actin-myosin mechanosensing feedback found in vertebrate cardiac cells.…”

Section: Passive Control Of Heart Tissue By Soft Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative Curvature and Control of Excitable Biological Media

Entcheva¹

2015

Bottom-Up Self-Organization in Supramolecular Soft Matter

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Biological media studied in controlled in-vitro conditions are sensitive to their environment, including the materials which shape their development and functionality. We discuss the importance of the factors that can significantly influence tissue morphology and dynamics in biological excitable media. Active and passive control of excitability in cardiac tissue are exemplarily reviewed by using rigidity controllable gels and tissue boundary shaping polymers. In particular, we illustrate how the knowledge of tissue boundaries can be utilized to control excitation patterns, with relevance to the treatment of cardiac diseases. Further, we discuss new optogenetic ways for active control of excitation patterns by light, offering higher versatility compared to traditional electrical means of control. Finally, we discuss the influence of the substrate rigidity on the tissue morphology and signaling dynamics during development of cardiac tissue, and provide evidence that the smart use of materials can significantly alter the morphology and functionality of the assembled tissue.

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On the function of chitin synthase extracellular domains in biomineralization

Cited by 30 publications

References 33 publications

Characterization and functional analysis of a chitin synthase gene (HcCS1) identified from the freshwater pearlmussel Hyriopsis cumingii

Characterization and functional analysis of a chitin synthase gene (HcCS1) identified from the freshwater pearlmussel Hyriopsis cumingii

Real-time monitoring of calcium carbonate and cationic peptide deposition on carboxylate-SAM using a microfluidic SAW biosensor

Negative Curvature and Control of Excitable Biological Media

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