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Griesshaber E, Checa AG, Salas C, Hoffmann R, Yin X, Neuser R, Rupp U, Schmahl WW. Biological light-weight materials: The endoskeletons of cephalopod mollusks. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107988. [PMID: 37364762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.107988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Structural biological hard tissues fulfill diverse tasks: protection, defence, locomotion, structural support, reinforcement, buoyancy. The cephalopod mollusk Spirula spirula has a planspiral, endogastrically coiled, chambered, endoskeleton consisting of the main elements: shell-wall, septum, adapical-ridge, siphuncular-tube. The cephalopod mollusk Sepia officinalis has an oval, flattened, layered-cellular endoskeleton, formed of the main elements: dorsal-shield, wall/pillar, septum, siphuncular-zone. Both endoskeletons are light-weight buoyancy devices that enable transit through marine environments: vertical (S. spirula), horizontal (S. officinalis). Each skeletal element of the phragmocones has a specific morphology, component structure and organization. The conjunction of the different structural and compositional characteristics renders the evolved nature of the endoskeletons and facilitates for Spirula frequent migration from deep to shallow water and for Sepia coverage over large horizontal distances, without damage of the buoyancy device. Based on Electron-Backscatter-Diffraction (EBSD) measurements and TEM, FE-SEM, laser-confocal-microscopy imaging we highlight for each skeletal element of the endoskeleton its specific mineral/biopolymer hybrid nature and constituent arrangement. We demonstrate that a variety of crystal morphologies and biopolymer assemblies are needed for enabling the endoskeleton to act as a buoyancy device. We show that all organic components of the endoskeletons have the structure of cholesteric-liquid-crystals and indicate which feature of the skeletal element yields the necessary mechanical property to enable the endoskeleton to fulfill its function. We juxtapose structural, microstructural, texture characteristics and benefits of coiled and planar endoskeletons and discuss how morphometry tunes structural biomaterial function. Both mollusks use their endoskeleton for buoyancy regulation, live and move, however, in distinct marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Griesshaber
- Department fur Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Antonio G Checa
- Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC-Universidad de Granada, 18100 Armilla, Spain
| | - Carmen Salas
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071-Málaga, Spain
| | - René Hoffmann
- Institute of Geology, Mineralogy, and Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Xiaofei Yin
- Department fur Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Rolf Neuser
- Institute of Geology, Mineralogy, and Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - U Rupp
- Zentrale Einrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Schmahl
- Department fur Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Seidl B, Reisecker C, Neues F, Campanaro A, Epple M, Hild S, Ziegler A. The dorsal tergite cuticle of Helleria brevicornis: Ultrastructure, mineral distribution, calcite microstructure and texture. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY-X 2021; 5:100051. [PMID: 34337383 PMCID: PMC8313847 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2021.100051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Among the terrestrial Crustacea, isopods have most successfully established themselves in a large variety of terrestrial habitats. As in most Crustacea, their cuticle consists of a hierarchically organised organic phase of chitin-protein fibrils, containing calcium carbonate and some calcium phosphate. In previous studies, we examined the tergite cuticle of Tylos europaeus, which lives on seashores and burrows into moist sand. In this study, we investigate the closely related species Helleria brevicornis, which is completely terrestrial and lives in leaf litter and humus and burrows into the soil. To get deeper insights in relation between the structure of the organic and mineral phase in species living in diverse habitats, we have investigated the structure, and the chemical and crystallographic properties of the tergite cuticle using various preparation techniques, and microscopic and analytical methods. The results reveal long and short epicuticular sensilla with brushed tips on the tergite surface that do not occur in T. europaeus. As in T. europaeus a distal exocuticle, which contains a low number of organic fibres, contains calcite while the subjacent layers of the exo- and endocuticle contain amorphous calcium carbonate. The distal exocuticle contains a polygonal pattern of mineral initiation sites that correspond to interprismatic septa described for decapod crabs. The shape and position of calcite units do not follow the polygonal pattern of the septa. The results indicate that the calcite units form by crystallisation from an amorphous phase that progresses from both margins of the septa to the centres of the polygons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Seidl
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Reisecker
- Department of Polymer Science, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Frank Neues
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, 45117Essen, Germany
| | - Alessandro Campanaro
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant and Certification, Via di Lanciola 12/a, I-50125 Cascine del Riccio, Florence, Italy
| | - Matthias Epple
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, 45117Essen, Germany
| | - Sabine Hild
- Department of Polymer Science, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Andreas Ziegler
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
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Persistent polyamorphism in the chiton tooth: From a new biomineral to inks for additive manufacturing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2020160118. [PMID: 34088834 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020160118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineering structures that bridge between elements with disparate mechanical properties are a significant challenge. Organisms reap synergy by creating complex shapes that are intricately graded. For instance, the wear-resistant cusp of the chiton radula tooth works in concert with progressively softer microarchitectural units as the mollusk grazes on and erodes rock. Herein, we focus on the stylus that connects the ultrahard and stiff tooth head to the flexible radula membrane. Using techniques that are especially suited to probe the rich chemistry of iron at high spatial resolution, in particular synchrotron Mössbauer and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we find that the upper stylus of Cryptochiton stelleri is in fact a mineralized tissue. Remarkably, the inorganic phase is nano disperse santabarbaraite, an amorphous ferric hydroxyphosphate that has not been observed as a biomineral. The presence of two persistent polyamorphic phases, amorphous ferric phosphate and santabarbaraite, in close proximity, is a unique aspect that demonstrates the level of control over phase transformations in C. stelleri dentition. The stylus is a highly graded material in that its mineral content and mechanical properties vary by a factor of 3 to 8 over distances of a few hundred micrometers, seamlessly bridging between the soft radula and the hard tooth head. The use of amorphous phases that are low in iron and high in water content may be key to increasing the specific strength of the stylus. Finally, we show that we can distill these insights into design criteria for inks for additive manufacturing of highly tunable chitosan-based composites.
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Yin X, Griesshaber E, Checa A, Nindiyasari-Behal F, Sánchez-Almazo I, Ziegler A, Schmahl WW. Calcite crystal orientation patterns in the bilayers of laminated shells of benthic rotaliid foraminifera. J Struct Biol 2021; 213:107707. [PMID: 33581285 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Shells of calcifying foraminifera play a major role in marine biogeochemical cycles; fossil shells form important archives for paleoenvironment reconstruction. Despite their importance in many Earth science disciplines, there is still little consensus on foraminiferal shell mineralization. Geochemical, biochemical, and physiological studies showed that foraminiferal shell formation might take place through various and diverse mineralization mechanisms. In this study, we contribute to benthic foraminiferal shell calcification through deciphering crystallite organization within the shells. We base our conclusions on results gained from electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) measurements and describe microstructure/texture characteristics within the laminated shell walls of the benthic, symbiontic foraminifera: Ammonia tepida, Amphistegina lobifera, Amphistegina lessonii. We highlight crystallite assembly patterns obtained on differently oriented cuts and discuss crystallite sizes, morphologies, interlinkages, orientations, and co-orientation strengths. We show that: (i) crystals within benthic foraminiferal shells are mesocrystals, (ii) have dendritic-fractal morphologies and (iii) interdigitate strongly. Based on crystal size, we (iv) differentiate between the two layers that comprise the shells and demonstrate that (v) crystals in the septa have different assemblies relative to those in the shell walls. We highlight that (vi) at junctions of different shell elements the axis of crystal orientation jumps abruptly such that their assembly in EBSD maps has a bimodal distribution. We prove (vii) extensive twin-formation within foraminiferal calcite; we demonstrate (viii) the presence of two twin modes: 60°/[001] and 77°/~[6 -6 1] and visualize their distributions within the shells. In a broader perspective, we draw conclusions on processes that lead to the observed microstructure/texture patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Yin
- Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany.
| | - E Griesshaber
- Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - A Checa
- Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain, and Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC-Universidad de Granada, Armilla, Spain
| | | | - I Sánchez-Almazo
- Centro de Instrumentación Científica, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - A Ziegler
- Zentrale Einrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Universität Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - W W Schmahl
- Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
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Crystalline and amorphous calcium carbonate as structural components of the Calappa granulata exoskeleton. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107557. [PMID: 32603682 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The exoskeleton of crustaceans consists of chitin biopolymers where the embedded inorganic biominerals, mainly CaCO3, affect strongly its mechanical properties. Raman and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopies and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are applied to investigate the CaCO3 structure in various parts of the Calappa granulata crab exoskeleton. The shape of the main Raman peak of CaCO3 reveals the presence of two phases which are identified as calcite and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC). The relative concentration of the two phases in various parts of the exoskeleton is determined from the area ratio under the corresponding peaks. The results of the Ca L3,2-edge NEXAFS analysis are in line with the Raman findings, since the energy separation of peaks that appear in the lower frequency region of the main L2 and L3 peaks due to crystal field splitting, is directly related to the percentage of the ACC phase in the total CaCO3 mineral content. The C K-edge spectra are used for the determination of the extent of calcification of the exoskeleton. Furthermore, dark and bright field TEM images reveal the presence of nanocrystallites with an average size of 20 nm. The structure of the nanocrystallites, as derived from the Selected Area Electron Diffraction patterns, is calcite. The results suggest that ACC plays a structural role in the exoskeleton of Calappa granulata.
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Ernst F, Fabritius HO, Griesshaber E, Reisecker C, Neues F, Epple M, Schmahl WW, Hild S, Ziegler A. Functional adaptations in the tergite cuticle of the desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumuri (Milne-Edwards, 1840). J Struct Biol 2020; 212:107570. [PMID: 32650132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
To survive in its extreme habitat, the cuticle of the burrowing desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumuri requires properties distinct from isopods living in moist or mesic habitats. In particular, the anterior tergites are exposed to high mechanical loads and temperatures when individuals guard the entrance of their burrow. We have, therefore, investigated the architecture, composition, calcite texture and local mechanical properties of the tergite cuticle, with particular emphasis on large anterior cuticle tubercles and differences between the anterior and posterior tergite. Unexpectedly, structure and thickness of the epicuticle resemble those in mesic isopod species. The anterior tergite has a thicker endocuticle and a higher local stiffness than the posterior tergite. Calcite distribution in the cuticle is unusual, because in addition to the exocuticle the endocuticle distally also contains calcite. The calcite consists of a distal layer of dense and highly co-oriented crystal-units, followed proximally by irregularly distributed and, with respect to each other, misoriented calcite crystallites. The calcite layer at the tip of the tubercle is thicker relative to the tubercle slopes, and its crystallites are more misoriented to each other. A steep decrease of local stiffness and hardness is observed within a distal region of the cuticle, likely caused by a successive increase in the ACC/calcite ratio rather than changes in the degree of mineralisation. Comparison of the results with other isopods reveals a much lower ACC/calcite ratio in H. reaumuri and a correlation between the degree of terrestriality of isopod species and the magnesium content of the cuticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Ernst
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Helge-Otto Fabritius
- Bionics and Materials Development, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Marker Allee 76-78, 59063 Hamm, Germany; Department of Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design, Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Erika Griesshaber
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LMU, Theresienstr. 41, 80333 München, Germany
| | - Christian Reisecker
- Institute of Polymer Science, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Frank Neues
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Epple
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Schmahl
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LMU, Theresienstr. 41, 80333 München, Germany
| | - Sabine Hild
- Institute of Polymer Science, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Andreas Ziegler
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
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