Elucidating the role of catalytic amino acid residues in the peptide-mediated silica oligomerization reaction mechanism

• DOI: 10.1039/d1cp04542c
• Publication Date: 2022-01-13T20:01:35Z
• Authors: Stephanie R. Hare; Jim Pfaendtner
• Keywords: Diatoms; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Proteins; 02 engineering and technology; Amino Acids; Peptides; Silicon Dioxide; 0210 nano-technology

This manuscript explores the reaction mechanisms of peptide-based biomineralization processes. Charged sidechains are known to play a role in silicate oligomerization, but the underlying mechanisms and energy landscapes have not been determined.