A model for the effects of germanium on silica biomineralization in choanoflagellates.

Silica biomineralization is a widespread phenomenon of major biotechnological interest. Modifying biosilica with substances like germanium (Ge) can confer useful new properties, although exposure to high levels of Ge disrupts normal biosilicification. No clear mechanism explains why this disruption occurs. Here, we study the effect of Ge on loricate choanoflagellates, a group of protists that construct a species-specific extracellular lorica from multiple siliceous costal strips. High Ge exposures were toxic, whereas lower Ge exposures produced cells with incomplete or absent loricae. These effects can be ameliorated by restoring the germanium : silicon ratio, as observed in other biosilicifying organisms. We developed simulations of how Ge interacts with polymerizing silica. In our models, Ge is readily incorporated at the ends of silica forming from silicic acid condensation, but this prevents further silica polymerization. Our 'Ge-capping' model is supported by observations from loricate choanoflagellates. Ge exposure terminates costal strip synthesis and lorica formation, resulting in disruption to cytokinesis and fatal build-up of silicic acid. Applying the Ge-capping model to other siliceous organisms explains the general toxicity of Ge and identifies potential protective responses in metalloid uptake and sensing. This can improve the design of new silica biomaterials, and further our understanding of silicon metabolism.Higher Education Funding Council for England (Strategic Research Infrastructure Funding), Science and Technology Facilities Council, European Research Council (Advanced Investigator Grant ID: 247333), Wellcome Trust (Senior Investigator Award), Medical Research Council (Grant ID: U105960399, MRC-HNR Career Development Fellowship), European Research Council (Starting Grant ID: 282101 under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013))This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Royal Society Publishing via http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2016.048