Lessons from seashells: silica mineralization via protein templating.

Silica, the most abundant compound in the earth's crust, is also widespread in biological systems. Silica has many functions, including support and protection in single-celled organisms and in higher plants and animals alike. Despite this widespread occurrence and importance of function, little is known about biosilica and the mechanisms that produce controlled microscopic and macroscopic silica structures with nanoscale precision, exceeding present synthetic technological approaches. Here we highlight recent progress in identifying proteins, genes and the various environmental factors responsible for the controlled synthesis of silica by marine organisms. Examples of biomimetic approaches to biosilica formation using model peptides to control the formation of structures through manipulation of the processing environment are discussed.