Biological, Biochemical, and Chemical Studies of Silica in Plants

Abstract

Background Botanists and materials scientists have established the presence of silica in plant cell walls, but the mechanisms by 
which plants transport silicon and regulate its polymerization, as well as the functions played by silica in situ, remain poorly 
known.
Recent Advancement Recent research into silicification processes has uncovered a Si transporter that requires energy to 
function, Si as a physiologically active element that triggers natural defense systems, and the ways by which silica alleviates 
abiotic toxicities. The significance of the environment in silica creation is currently poorly understood, but essential to a 
complete knowledge of silica formation in vivo. The interactions between the biomolecules and silica and the consequences of 
their presence on the mineralized structures generated are shown by the results of in-vitro investigations of the impact of cellwall components associated with polymerized silica on mineral formation. Scope This Botanical Briefing explains how plants 
take in, store, and use Si, as well as the role biomolecules play when integrated into model systems of silica polymerization and 
where this line of inquiry is headed next.