Compartmental Analysis Suggests Macropinocytosis at the Onset of Diatom Valve Formation

During valve formation of the siliceous frustules of diatoms, bulk uptake of silicic acid and its subsequent transport through the cell is required before it can be deposited in the silica deposition vesicle (SDV). It has been assumed that transport takes place via silicon transporters (SITs), but if that were the case a control mechanism would...

On the Beneficial Role of Silicon to Organisms: A Case Study on the Importance of Silicon Chemistry to Metal Accumulation in Yeast

Silicon is involved in numerous important structural and functional roles in a wide range of organisms, including diatoms, plants, and humans, but clear mechanisms have been discovered only in diatoms and sponges. Silicate availability influences metal concentrations within various cell- and tissue-types, but a mechanism has not been discovered...