Biomineralization refers to the processes by which organisms form minerals under biological control. Skeletons of multicellular organisms are formed by a process called biologically controlled mineralization and are often integral and functional parts of the organisms – and skeletal remains are frequently the only tangible evidence of organisms that remain in the fossil record.

The highly (enzymatically) regulated process of biologically controlled mineralization is responsible for the production of materials such as bones, shells, and teeth, some of which show exceptional strength and beauty, often of high commercial value (i.e. pearls). Ongoing research in our lab investigates how organisms form their calcareous skeleton and which genetic mechanisms control mineral deposition. We are also interested in the evolutionary aspects of the diversification of calcareous biomineralization in the Metazoa.

Key publications:

Jackson, D.J., Thiel, V., Wörheide, G., 2010. An evolutionary fast-track to biocalcification. Geobiology 8 (3), 191–196.

Ehrlich, H., Deutzmann, R., Brunner, E., Cappellini, E., Koon, H., Solazzo, C., Yang, Y., Ashford, D., Thomas-Oates, J., Lubeck, M., Baessmann, C., Langrock, T., Hoffmann, R., Wörheide, G., Reitner, J., Simon, P., Tsurkan, M., Ereskovsky, A.V., Kurek, D., Bazhenov, V.V., Hunoldt, S., Mertig, M., Vyalikh, D.V., Molodtsov, S.L., Kummer, K., Worch, H., Smetacek, V., Collins, M.J., 2010. Mineralization of the metre-long biosilica structures of glass sponges is templated on hydroxylated collagen. Nature Chemistry 2 (12), 1084–1088.

Jackson, D. J., Macis, L., Reitner, J., Degnan, B. M., & Wörheide, G. (2007): Sponge Paleogenomics Reveals an Ancient Role for Carbonic Anhydrase in Skeletogenesis. Science 316(5833): 1893-1895.

Jackson, D.J., McDougall, C., Green, K., Simpson, F., Wörheide, G., Degnan, B.M. (2006): A rapidly evolving secretome builds and patterns a sea shell. BMC Biology. 40: 4.

Images from Wörheide (1998) Facies 38

Spherulites build basal skeleton

Spherulites build basal skeleton

Ectosome: Initial epitaxial growth of the basal skeleton
Left: Spherulite attached to skeleton
Right: Surface of skeleton

Ectosome: Initial epitaxial growth of the basal skeleton
Left: Mucus in ECS | Right: Basal skeleton