Magnetic teeth hold promise for materials and energy
The mollusk, called a gumboot chiton, scrapes algae off ocean rocks using a specialized set of teeth made from the magnetic mineral magnetite. The teeth have the maximum hardness and stiffness of any known biomineral. Although magnetite is a geologic mineral commonly found in the earth’s crust, only a few animals are known to produce it, and little is known about how they make it.
A better understanding of the biomineralization process, combined with a thorough understanding of chiton tooth architecture and mechanics, could help scientists not only improve wear-resistant coatings and tooling, but also help grow nanoscale materials for energy and water-based applications.
Now, for the first time, a team led by Michiko Nemoto, an assistant professor of agriculture at Okayama University and David Kisailus, a professor of materials science and chemical engineering in UC Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering, has discovered a piece of the genetic puzzle that allows the chiton to produce magnetite nanomaterials.
Chitons have several dozen rows of teeth attached to a ribbon-like structure. Each tooth is composed of a mineralized cusp, or pointed area, and base supporting the mineralized cusp. Magnetite is deposited only in the cusp region. As teeth wear down they are replaced by new teeth, so teeth in varying stages of formation are always present.
Rather than looking for specific genes, the researchers examined the transcriptome, the set of all RNA molecules in the teeth, to see what substances the genes were actually expressing. DNA contains the blueprints, but RNA is what “transcribes” the blueprints and helps carry them out.
They found that the 20 most abundant RNA transcripts in the developing teeth region contain ferritin, a protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion, while those in the mineralized teeth region include proteins of mitochondria that may provide the energy required to transform the raw materials into magnetite. On the fully mineralized cusp the researchers also identified 22 proteins that included a new protein they called “radular teeth matrix protein1.” The new protein might interact with other substances present on the teeth to produce iron oxide.
The findings could help scientists solve an urgent problem for next generation electronics— nanoscale energy sources to power them. Knowing how to control the growth of biological magnetite, whose magnetic fields have electrical applications, could help scientists create nanoscale energy materials.
The open access paper, “Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of a molecular mechanism of radular teeth biomineralization in Cryptochiton stelleri,” was published January 29 in Scientific Reports. In addition to Nemoto and Kisailus, authors include Dongni Ren, Steven Herrera, Songqin Pan, Takashi Tamura, Kenji Inagaki.
Learn more: Magnetic teeth hold promise for materials and energy
The Latest on: Nanoscale energy sources
[google_news title=”” keyword=”nanoscale energy sources” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Nanoscale energy sources
- Scientists Calculated the Energy Needed to Carry a Baby. Shocker: It’s a Lot.on May 16, 2024 at 11:00 am
In humans, the energetic cost of pregnancy is about 50,000 dietary calories — far higher than previously believed, a new study found.
- Solar Energy Newson May 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Feb. 27, 2024 — Solar energy is one of the most promising, widely adopted renewable energy sources, but the solar cells that convert light into electricity remains a challenge. Scientists have ...
- Renewable energy generation reaches 30% globallyon May 15, 2024 at 1:11 pm
The global transition to cleaner energy sources is moving forward. According to a recent report from the U.K.-based energy think tank Ember, 30% of the world’s energy generated last year was from ...
- Energy and the Environment Newson May 14, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Mozambique's Maniamba Basin could be a big source of natural ... is shedding light on one barrier to a clean energy future: corrosion. Using nanoscale imaging techniques, researchers have ...
- China to Unveil High-Energy Photon Source, Revolutionizing Scientific Research With High-Energy X-Rayson May 13, 2024 at 9:40 pm
This fourth-generation synchrotron will offer a time resolution 10,000 times greater than third-generation facilities like the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, which has a 432-meter ...
- This autonomous DNA nano turbine could redefine drug deliveryon May 13, 2024 at 11:42 am
Turbines, from macroscopic to nanoscale, harness kinetic energy and have diverse applications. Nanoscale turbines, ...
- World’s brightest X-rays: China set to unveil High-Energy Photon Sourceon May 13, 2024 at 7:15 am
With a staggering investment of 4.8 billion yuan (approximately US$665 million), this facility marks a significant milestone for Asia.
- Nanoscale Movies Illuminate Obstacles to Clean Energy Futureon May 12, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Left unchecked, corrosion can rust out cars and pipes, take down buildings and bridges, and eat away at our monuments.Corrosion can also damage devices that could be key to a clean energy future. And ...
- Nanoscale movies shed light on one barrier to a clean energy futureon April 11, 2024 at 7:15 am
Corrosion can also damage devices that could be key to a clean energy future ... electricity to power electrolysis comes from renewable sources such as wind or solar, the hydrogen gas it churns ...
- Nanophotonics – harnessing light at the nanoscaleon November 13, 2023 at 12:56 pm
This nano-optical toolkit enables innovations across green energy ... manipulation of photons at the nanoscale, essential for quantum communication and information processing. It enables the creation ...
via Bing News