DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0906636106. The role of seawater endocytosis in the biomineralization process in calcareous foraminifera

The role of seawater endocytosis in the biomineralization process in calcareous foraminifera

10.1073/pnas.0906636106

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

Foraminifera are unicellular organisms that inhabit the oceans in various ecosystems. The majority of the foraminifera precipitate calcitic shells and are among the major CaCO 3 producers in the oceans. They comprise an important component of the global carbon cycle and also provide valuable paleoceanographic information based on the relative abundance of stable isotopes and trace elements (proxies) in their shells. Understanding the biomineralization processes in foraminifera is important for predicting their calcification response to ocean acidification and for reliable interpretation of the paleoceanographic proxies. Most models of biomineralization invoke the involvement of membrane ion transporters (channels and pumps) in the delivery of Ca 2+ and other ions to the calcification site. Here we show, in contrast, that in the benthic foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera , (a shallow water species), transport of seawater via fluid phase endocytosis may account for most of the ions supplied to the calcification site. During their intracellular passage the seawater vacuoles undergo alkalization that elevates the CO 3 2− concentration and further enhances their calcifying potential. This mechanism of biomineralization may explain why many calcareous foraminifera can be good recorders of paleoceanographic conditions. It may also explain the sensitivity to ocean acidification that was observed in several planktonic and benthic species.

Bibliography

Bentov, S., Brownlee, C., & Erez, J. (2009). The role of seawater endocytosis in the biomineralization process in calcareous foraminifera. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(51), 21500â21504.

Authors 3

Shmuel Bentov (first)
Colin Brownlee (additional)
Jonathan Erez (additional)

References 30 Referenced 233

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Dates

Type	When
Created	15 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 10, 2009, 9:30 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2022, 6:54 p.m.)
Indexed	4 weeks ago (July 28, 2025, 5:13 p.m.)
Issued	15 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 22, 2009)
Published	15 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 22, 2009)
Published Online	15 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 22, 2009)
Published Print	15 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 22, 2009)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Bentov_2009, title={The role of seawater endocytosis in the biomineralization process in calcareous foraminifera}, volume={106}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0906636106}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.0906636106}, number={51}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Bentov, Shmuel and Brownlee, Colin and Erez, Jonathan}, year={2009}, month=dec, pages={21500–21504} }

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