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Iron Biomineralization in the Poriferan Ircinia Oros

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Fiona C. Meldrum ,
Brigid R. Heywood ,
Dominic P.E. Dickson  and
Stephen Mann
Fiona C. Meldrum
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY.
Brigid R. Heywood
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY.
Dominic P.E. Dickson
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX.
Stephen Mann
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
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Extract

Iron-containing precipitates, present within the organic matrix of the poriferan Ircinia oros were identified as crystalline lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) by electron diffraction and57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The crystals were located specifically within the spongin filaments, suggesting that the binding and subsequent accumulation of iron by macromolecules present in these filaments were responsible for mineralization. Iron biomineralization did not appear to serve any specific structural role, but may be involved in biological processes such as detoxification.

It is well recognized that Porifera are active in the biomineralization of calcium carbonate and silica, producing beautiful and intricate skeletons (Simpson, 1984). However, the formation of other biominerals is less well documented. Iron biomineralization has been reported in a few species of keratose sponges (Töwe & Riitzler, 1968; Vacelet et al., 1988), and the mineral has been identified as lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH). Lepidocrocite is a relatively uncommon biomineral, having previously been identified as only a minor phase in chiton teeth (Webb et al., 1989; Lowenstam & Weiner, 1989).

Type
Short Communications
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 75 , Issue 4 , November 1995 , pp. 993 - 996
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1995

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