A Short Review on the Role of Biosilifying Proteins into the Synthesis of Silico-Carbonates of Alkaline Metals: Implications to the Origin of Life

Organisms possess mineral parts that, in addition to providing support and hard structures essential for life, defy the common features of inorganic crystallization in many ways. The process of biomineral formation is called biomineralization, and it is carried out by practically all living organisms of the five kingdoms. For four decades, in silico studies reveal that inorganic structures that emulate morphologies of organisms, such as leaves, flowers, worms, propellers, and stems, among others, can be obtained through synthesis. These structures have been called biomorphs, which are very special in their formation mechanisms as the silicic acid translocation processes cause amorphous silica to be deposited on the surface of some organisms, interacting with transporter proteins. To know the role of biosilifying proteins, this work was aimed at reviewing the participation of these proteins because the nucleation effect for the formation of crystals and even porous and sometimes amorphous inorganic materials will depend on them. On the other hand, it is likely that biosilifying proteins were one of the first proteins to appear during the Precambrian era, which explains their prevalence today in various higher organisms.