1
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Addadi L, Kronik L, Leiserowitz L, Oron D, Weiner S. Organic Crystals and Optical Functions in Biology: Knowns and Unknowns. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2408060. [PMID: 39087402 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202408060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Organic crystals are widely used by animals to manipulate light for producing structural colors and for improving vision. To date only seven crystal types are known to be used, and among them β-guanine crystals are by far the most widespread. The fact that almost all these crystals have unusually high refractive indices (RIs) is consistent with their light manipulation function. Here, the physical, structural, and optical principles of how light interacts with the polarizable free-electron-rich environment of these quasiaromatic molecules are addressed. How the organization of these molecules into crystalline arrays introduces optical anisotropy and finally how organisms control crystal morphology and superstructural organization to optimize functions in light reflection and scattering are also discussed. Many open questions remain in this fascinating field, some of which arise out of this in-depth analysis of the interaction of light with crystal arrays. More types of organic crystals will probably be discovered, as well as other organisms that use these crystals to manipulate light. The insights gained from biological systems can also be harnessed for improving synthetic light-manipulating materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Addadi
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Leeor Kronik
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Leslie Leiserowitz
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Stephen Weiner
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
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2
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Caves EM, Davis AL, Johnsen S. Nanoscale ultrastructures increase the visual conspicuousness of signalling traits in obligate cleaner shrimps. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb248064. [PMID: 39119671 PMCID: PMC11418175 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.248064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Signal theory predicts organisms should evolve signals that are conspicuous to intended receivers in natural signalling environments. Cleaner shrimps remove ectoparasites from reef fish clients and many signal their intent to clean by whipping long, white antennae. As white is a reliably conspicuous colour in aquatic environments, we hypothesized that selection has acted to increase broad-spectrum antennal reflectance in cleaners. Using scanning electron microscopy, optical models and reflectance measurements, we found that the antennae in three obligate cleaner species from two families (Palaemonidae and Lysmatidae) had thick (∼6 µm) chitinous layers or densely packed high refractive index spheres (300-400 nm diameter), which models show increase reflectance (400-700 nm). Two facultative and non-cleaning species had no visible antennae ultrastructure beyond the chitinous exoskeleton. Antennae reflectance was significantly higher in obligate cleaners than in facultative and non-cleaning species. Our results suggest that some obligate cleaners may have evolved ultrastructures that increase the conspicuousness of their antennae as signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M. Caves
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | | | - Sönke Johnsen
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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3
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Smalley CH, Hughes CE, Hildebrand M, Aizen R, Bauer M, Yamano A, Levy D, Mirsky SK, Shaked NT, Young MT, Kolb U, Gazit E, Kronik L, Harris KDM. Understanding the Solid-State Structure of Riboflavin through a Multitechnique Approach. CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2024; 24:6256-6266. [PMID: 39131447 PMCID: PMC11311124 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.4c00480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Crystalline riboflavin (vitamin B2) performs an important biological role as an optically functional material in the tapetum lucidum of certain animals, notably lemurs and cats. The tapetum lucidum is a reflecting layer behind the retina, which serves to enhance photon capture and vision in low-light settings. Motivated by the aim of rationalizing its biological role, and given that the structure of biogenic solid-state riboflavin remains unknown, we have used a range of experimental and computational techniques to determine the solid-state structure of synthetic riboflavin. Our multitechnique approach included microcrystal XRD, powder XRD, three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D-ED), high-resolution solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy, and dispersion-augmented density functional theory (DFT-D) calculations. Although an independent report of the crystal structure of riboflavin was published recently, our structural investigations reported herein provide a different interpretation of the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding arrangement in this material, supported by all the experimental and computational approaches utilized in our study. We also discuss, more generally, potential pitfalls that may arise in applying DFT-D geometry optimization as a bridging step between structure solution and Rietveld refinement in the structure determination of hydrogen-bonded materials from powder XRD data. Finally, we report experimental and computational values for the refractive index of riboflavin, with implications for its optical function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colan E. Hughes
- School
of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AT, U.K.
| | - Mariana Hildebrand
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovoth, 76100, Israel
| | - Ruth Aizen
- The
Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise
Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Melanie Bauer
- Center
for High Resolution Electron Microscopy (EMC-M), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Akihito Yamano
- Rigaku
Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8666, Japan
| | - Davide Levy
- Wolfson
Applied
Materials Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Simcha K. Mirsky
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Natan T. Shaked
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Mark T. Young
- School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, U.K.
| | - Ute Kolb
- Center
for High Resolution Electron Microscopy (EMC-M), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Ehud Gazit
- The
Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise
Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Leeor Kronik
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovoth, 76100, Israel
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4
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Alus L, Houben L, Shaked N, Niazov-Elkan A, Pinkas I, Oron D, Addadi L. Bio-Inspired Crystalline Core-Shell Guanine Spherulites. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308832. [PMID: 38722270 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Spherical particles with diameters within the wavelength of visible light, known as spherulites, manipulate light uniquely due to their spatial organization and their structural birefringence. Most of the known crystalline spherulites are branched, and composed of metals, alloys, and semi-crystalline polymers. Recently, a different spherulite architecture is discovered in the vision systems of decapod crustaceans - core-shell spherulites composed of highly birefringent (Δ n ≈ 30 % $\Delta n \approx \ 30\%$ ) organic single-crystal platelets, with exceptional optical properties. These metastructures, which efficiently scatter light even in dense aqueous environments, have no synthetic equivalence and serve as a natural proof-of-concept as well as synthetic inspiration for thin scattering media. Here, the synthesis of core-shell spherulites composed of guanine crystal platelets ((Δ n ≈ 25 % $\Delta n \approx 25\%$ ) is presented in a two-step emulsification process in which a water/oil/water emulsion and induced pH changes are used to promote interfacial crystallization. Carboxylic acids neutralize the dissolved guanine salts to form spherulites composed of single, radially stacked, β-guanine platelets, which are oriented tangentially to the spherulite surface. Using Mie theory calculations and forward scattering measurements from single spherulites, it is found that due to the single-crystal properties and orientation, the synthetic spherulites possess a high tangential refractive index, similarly to biogenic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotem Alus
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Lothar Houben
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Noy Shaked
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Angelica Niazov-Elkan
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
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5
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Hou X, Wang Y, Song X, Gao J, Ma Y. Biomimetic synthesis of single-crystalline anhydrous xanthine nanoplates in an aqueous solution with high reflectivity. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4422-4433. [PMID: 38775112 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00165f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Biogenic purine crystals can function in vision as light scatters, mirrors, and multilayer reflectors and produce structural colors or depolarization for camouflage. Xanthine crystals form irregular multifocal mirrors in the median ocellus of Archaeognatha. It is important to broaden the study of crystallization strategies to obtain organic crystals with purine rings in the laboratory. In this work, a facile one-step synthesis route to fabricate bio-inspired xanthine crystals is reported for the first time. The obtained rhomboidal xanthine nanoplates have similar morphology and size to biogenic xanthine crystals. Their length and thickness are about 2-4 μm and 50 nm, respectively. Lattice parameters, crystal structure, formation mechanism and optical properties of synthetic single-crystalline xanthine nanoplates were investigated in detail in this work. The obtained xanthine nanoplate crystals are proposed to be anhydrous xanthine with monoclinic symmetry, and the xanthine nanoplates mainly expose the (100) plane. It is proposed that the anhydrous xanthine nanoplates are formed via an amorphous xanthine intermediate precursor. The synthetic anhydrous xanthine nanoplates exhibit excellent optical properties, including high diffuse reflectivity, strong depolarization and pearlescent luster. This work provides a new design to synthesize bio-inspired organic molecular crystals with excellent optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiubin Hou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yingxia Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xinbing Song
- School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Juan Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yurong Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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6
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Niazov-Elkan A, Shepelenko M, Alus L, Kazes M, Houben L, Rechav K, Leitus G, Kossoy A, Feldman Y, Kronik L, Vekilov PG, Oron D. Surface-Guided Crystallization of Xanthine Derivatives for Optical Metamaterial Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306996. [PMID: 38031346 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Numerous bio-organisms employ template-assisted crystallization of molecular solids to yield crystal morphologies with unique optical properties that are difficult to reproduce synthetically. Here, a facile procedure is presented to deposit bio-inspired birefringent crystals of xanthine derivatives on a template of single-crystal quartz. Crystalline sheets that are several millimeters in length, several hundred micrometers in width, and 300-600 nm thick, are obtained. The crystal sheets are characterized with a well-defined orientation both in and out of the substrate plane, giving rise to high optical anisotropy in the plane parallel to the quartz surface, with a refractive index difference Δn ≈ 0.25 and a refractive index along the slow axis of n ≈ 1.7. It is further shown that patterning of the crystalline stripes with a tailored periodic grating leads to a thin organic polarization-dependent diffractive meta-surface, opening the door to the fabrication of various optical devices from a platform of small-molecule based organic dielectric crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Niazov-Elkan
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX, 77204-4004, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 3585 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX, 77204-5003, USA
| | - Margarita Shepelenko
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Lotem Alus
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Miri Kazes
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Lothar Houben
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Katya Rechav
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Gregory Leitus
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Anna Kossoy
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yishay Feldman
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Leeor Kronik
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Peter G Vekilov
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX, 77204-4004, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 3585 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX, 77204-5003, USA
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
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7
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Amini S, Zhu T, Biswas A, Charsooghi MA, Kim K, Reber S, Dauphin Y, Fratzl P. Calcitic Prisms of The Giant Seashell Pinna Nobilis Form Light Guide Arrays. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2304166. [PMID: 37450944 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The shells of the Pinnidae family are based on a double layer of single-crystal-like calcitic prisms and inner aragonitic nacre, a structure known for its outstanding mechanical performance. However, on the posterior side, shells are missing the nacreous layer, which raises the question of whether there can be any functional role in giving up this mechanical performance. Here, it is demonstrated that the prismatic part of the Pinna nobilis shell exhibits unusual optical properties, whereby each prism acts as an individual optical fiber guiding the ambient light to the inner shell cavity by total internal reflection. This pixelated light channeling enhances both spatial resolution and contrast while reducing angular blurring, an apt combination for acute tracking of a moving object. These findings offer insights into the evolutionary aspects of light-sensing and imaging and demonstrate how an architectured optical system for efficient light-tracking can be based on birefringent ceramics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrouz Amini
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tingting Zhu
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Abin Biswas
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Kyoohyun Kim
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone Reber
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yannicke Dauphin
- UMR 7205 ISYEB, Museum National d'histoire Naturelle, CNRS UPMC EPHE, 57 rue Cuvier, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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8
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Lemcoff T, Alus L, Haataja JS, Wagner A, Zhang G, Pavan MJ, Yallapragada VJ, Vignolini S, Oron D, Schertel L, Palmer BA. Brilliant whiteness in shrimp from ultra-thin layers of birefringent nanospheres. NATURE PHOTONICS 2023; 17:485-493. [PMID: 37287680 PMCID: PMC10241642 DOI: 10.1038/s41566-023-01182-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental question regarding light scattering is how whiteness, generated from multiple scattering, can be obtained from thin layers of materials. This challenge arises from the phenomenon of optical crowding, whereby, for scatterers packed with filling fractions higher than ~30%, reflectance is drastically reduced due to near-field coupling between the scatterers. Here we show that the extreme birefringence of isoxanthopterin nanospheres overcomes optical crowding effects, enabling multiple scattering and brilliant whiteness from ultra-thin chromatophore cells in shrimp. Strikingly, numerical simulations reveal that birefringence, originating from the spherulitic arrangement of isoxanthopterin molecules, enables intense broadband scattering almost up to the maximal packing for random spheres. This reduces the thickness of material required to produce brilliant whiteness, resulting in a photonic system that is more efficient than other biogenic or biomimetic white materials which operate in the lower refractive index medium of air. These results highlight the importance of birefringence as a structural variable to enhance the performance of such materials and could contribute to the design of biologically inspired replacements for artificial scatterers like titanium dioxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tali Lemcoff
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Lotem Alus
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Johannes S. Haataja
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Present Address: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mariela J. Pavan
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lukas Schertel
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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9
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Shavit K, Wagner A, Schertel L, Farstey V, Akkaynak D, Zhang G, Upcher A, Sagi A, Yallapragada VJ, Haataja J, Palmer BA. A tunable reflector enabling crustaceans to see but not be seen. Science 2023; 379:695-700. [PMID: 36795838 DOI: 10.1126/science.add4099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Many oceanic prey animals use transparent bodies to avoid detection. However, conspicuous eye pigments, required for vision, compromise the organisms' ability to remain unseen. We report the discovery of a reflector overlying the eye pigments in larval decapod crustaceans and show how it is tuned to render the organisms inconspicuous against the background. The ultracompact reflector is constructed from a photonic glass of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanospheres. The nanospheres' size and ordering are modulated to tune the reflectance from deep blue to yellow, enabling concealment in different habitats. The reflector may also function to enhance the acuity or sensitivity of the minute eyes by acting as an optical screen between photoreceptors. This multifunctional reflector offers inspiration for constructing tunable artificial photonic materials from biocompatible organic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshet Shavit
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lukas Schertel
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.,Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Viviana Farstey
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 8810302, Israel
| | - Derya Akkaynak
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 8810302, Israel.,Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Alexander Upcher
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Amir Sagi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.,The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | | | - Johannes Haataja
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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10
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Wagner A, Upcher A, Maria R, Magnesen T, Zelinger E, Raposo G, Palmer BA. Macromolecular sheets direct the morphology and orientation of plate-like biogenic guanine crystals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:589. [PMID: 36737617 PMCID: PMC9898273 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35894-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals precisely control the morphology and assembly of guanine crystals to produce diverse optical phenomena in coloration and vision. However, little is known about how organisms regulate crystallization to produce optically useful morphologies which express highly reflective crystal faces. Guanine crystals form inside iridosome vesicles within chromatophore cells called iridophores. By following iridosome formation in developing scallop eyes, we show that pre-assembled, fibrillar sheets provide an interface for nucleation and direct the orientation of the guanine crystals. The macromolecular sheets cap the (100) faces of immature guanine crystals, inhibiting growth along the π-stacking growth direction. Crystal growth then occurs preferentially along the sheets to generate highly reflective plates. Despite their different physical properties, the morphogenesis of iridosomes bears a striking resemblance to melanosome morphogenesis in vertebrates, where amyloid sheets template melanin deposition. The common control mechanisms for melanin and guanine formation inspire new approaches for manipulating the morphologies and properties of molecular materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Alexander Upcher
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Raquel Maria
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, 8410501, Israel
| | - Thorolf Magnesen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, Bergen, N-5020, Norway
| | - Einat Zelinger
- The CSI Center for Scientific Imaging, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Graça Raposo
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, Structure and Membrane Compartments, 75005, Paris, France.,Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, Cell and Tissue Imaging Facility (PICT-IBiSA), 75005, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, 8410501, Israel.
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11
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Wilkens H. Functional eye rudiments in the anchialine crab Munidopsis polymorpha (Crustacea: Galatheidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The white crab Munidopsis polymorpha (Crustacea: Galatheidae) is the only one of a species-rich genus not occurring in the deep sea. It is endemic to marine caves, anchialine pools and groundwaters of the volcanic island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands). The eye derives from the superposition type possessing a clear zone formed by the proximal extensions of the rudimentary crystalline cones. The number of ommatidia ranges among the lowest found in decapods and the optic ganglia are strongly diminished in size. The crystalline cones are rudimentary or lost and facets with individual corneas are not discernible. The rhabdoms are tiny and irregularly arranged in the rhabdom layer. Some rhabdoms display an open arrangement of rhabdomers with microvilli that are not aligned to form orthogonal layers. The eye is one of the rare exceptions of traits that despite being rudimentary is still partially functional. The absence of stabilizing selection is probably the reason for variability or reduction of the traits necessary for image formation. In contrast, negative phototactic behaviour is present, because light is still perceived by the eyes of M. polymorpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horst Wilkens
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Zoological Museum Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg , Germany
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12
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Zhang J, Wang Y, Rodriguez BJ, Yang R, Yu B, Mei D, Li J, Tao K, Gazit E. Microfabrication of peptide self-assemblies: inspired by nature towards applications. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:6936-6947. [PMID: 35861374 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00122e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Peptide self-assemblies show intriguing and tunable physicochemical properties, and thus have been attracting increasing interest over the last two decades. However, the micro/nano-scale dimensions of the self-assemblies severely restrict their extensive applications. Inspired by nature, to genuinely realize the practical utilization of the bio-organic super-architectures, it is beneficial to further organize the peptide self-assemblies to integrate the properties of the individual supermolecules and fabricate higher-level organizations for smart functional devices. Therefore, cumulative studies have been reported on peptide microfabrication giving rise to diverse properties. This review summarizes the recent development of the microfabrication of peptide self-assemblies, discussing each methodology along with the diverse properties and practical applications of the engineered peptide large-scale, highly-ordered organizations. Finally, the current limitations of the state-of-the-art microfabrication strategies are critically assessed and alternative solutions are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Future Science Research Institute, Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Yancheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Brian J Rodriguez
- School of Physics and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Rusen Yang
- School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710126, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Future Science Research Institute, Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Deqing Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Junbai Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), CAS Key Lab of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kai Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. .,Future Science Research Institute, Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou 311200, China.,Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ehud Gazit
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
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13
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Pinsk N, Wagner A, Cohen L, Smalley CJ, Hughes CE, Zhang G, Pavan MJ, Casati N, Jantschke A, Goobes G, Harris KDM, Palmer BA. Biogenic Guanine Crystals Are Solid Solutions of Guanine and Other Purine Metabolites. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5180-5189. [PMID: 35255213 PMCID: PMC8949762 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Highly reflective crystals of the nucleotide base guanine are widely distributed in animal coloration and visual systems. Organisms precisely control the morphology and organization of the crystals to optimize different optical effects, but little is known about how this is achieved. Here we examine a fundamental question that has remained unanswered after over 100 years of research on guanine: what are the crystals made of? Using solution-state and solid-state chemical techniques coupled with structural analysis by powder XRD and solid-state NMR, we compare the purine compositions and the structures of seven biogenic guanine crystals with different crystal morphologies, testing the hypothesis that intracrystalline dopants influence the crystal shape. We find that biogenic "guanine" crystals are not pure crystals but molecular alloys (aka solid solutions and mixed crystals) of guanine, hypoxanthine, and sometimes xanthine. Guanine host crystals occlude homogeneous mixtures of other purines, sometimes in remarkably large amounts (up to 20% of hypoxanthine), without significantly altering the crystal structure of the guanine host. We find no correlation between the biogenic crystal morphology and dopant content and conclude that dopants do not dictate the crystal morphology of the guanine host. The ability of guanine crystals to host other molecules enables animals to build physiologically "cheaper" crystals from mixtures of metabolically available purines, without impeding optical functionality. The exceptional levels of doping in biogenic guanine offer inspiration for the design of mixed molecular crystals that incorporate multiple functionalities in a single material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Pinsk
- Department
of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Be’er
Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department
of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Be’er
Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Lilian Cohen
- Department
of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Colan E. Hughes
- School
of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales United Kingdom
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Be’er
Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Mariela J. Pavan
- Ilse
Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Nicola Casati
- Paul
Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Anne Jantschke
- Institute
of Geosciences, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gil Goobes
- Department
of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department
of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, Be’er
Sheba 8410501, Israel
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14
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Weber PM, Paredes GF, Viehboeck T, Pende N, Volland JM, Gros O, VanNieuwenhze M, Ott J, Bulgheresi S. FtsZ-mediated fission of a cuboid bacterial symbiont. iScience 2022; 25:103552. [PMID: 35059602 PMCID: PMC8760462 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Less than a handful of cuboid and squared cells have been described in nature, which makes them a rarity. Here, we show how Candidatus Thiosymbion cuboideus, a cube-like gammaproteobacterium, reproduces on the surface of marine free-living nematodes. Immunostaining of symbiont cells with an anti-fimbriae antibody revealed that they are host-polarized, as these appendages exclusively localized at the host-proximal (animal-attached) pole. Moreover, by applying a fluorescently labeled metabolic probe to track new cell wall insertion in vivo, we observed that the host-attached pole started septation before the distal one. Similarly, Ca. T. cuboideus cells immunostained with an anti-FtsZ antibody revealed a proximal-to-distal localization pattern of this tubulin homolog. Although FtsZ has been shown to arrange into squares in synthetically remodeled cuboid cells, here we show that FtsZ may also mediate the division of naturally occurring ones. This implies that, even in natural settings, membrane roundness is not required for FtsZ function. Ca. T. cuboideus cells are cuboid Septation is host oriented in Ca. T. cuboideus FtsZ localization pattern recapitulates that of new PG insertion FtsZ polymerizes into either straight or sharp-cornered filaments
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp M. Weber
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriela F. Paredes
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Viehboeck
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nika Pende
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marie Volland
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- LRC Systems, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Olivier Gros
- C3MAG, UFR Des Sciences Exactes Et Naturelles, Université Des Antilles, BP 592, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France
| | | | - Jörg Ott
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Limnology and Bio-Oceanography Unit, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Silvia Bulgheresi
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Environmental Cell Biology Group, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author
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15
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Friedman O, Böhm A, Rechav K, Pinkas I, Brumfeld V, Pass G, Weiner S, Addadi L. Structural Organization of Xanthine Crystals in the Median Ocellus of a Member of the Ancestral Insect Group Archaeognatha. J Struct Biol 2022; 214:107834. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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16
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Douglas HD, Ermakov IV, Gellermann W. Brighter is better: bill fluorescence increases social attraction in a colonial seabird and reveals a potential link with foraging. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021; 75. [PMID: 34840402 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03087-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Crested auklets (Aethia cristatella) are colonial seabirds with brilliant orange bills during the breeding season. We characterized the bill pigment with spectroscopy methods (resonance Raman, fluorescence, absorbance). We excluded carotenoids as a possible chromophore and showed that the pigment most closely resembles pterins. Like pterins the bill pigment fluoresces, and it occurred in two phenotypes that may differ geographically, perhaps due to environmental heterogeneity. The pigment is unique in the Genus Aethia, and its spectra did not match any known molecule. The UV-Vis absorbance spectrum of the bill pigment overlaps with the extracted pigment of euphausiids, a favored food of crested auklets. A color preference associated with prey may have favored characteristics of the crested auklet's accessory bill plates. Crest size, a signal of dominance, tended to correlate positively with highest fluorescence in the single-band phenotype. Brighter bills may function in self-advertisement and verify the status signal of the crest ornament. We tested for a behavioral preference using identical decoys that differed only in bill fluorescence. Crested auklets approached models with fluorescent bills at a higher frequency. In cases where sex of crested auklets was known, males responded at a higher frequency to fluorescent bills, but females did not. In an evolutionary context, bill fluorescence could have conferred an advantage in social interactions, e.g., in dimly lit rock crevices. Bill brightness and color may communicate success in foraging and may function as an honest signal of mate quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- H D Douglas
- Science Department, College of Community and Rural Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775.,Current address: Dept. Biological Sciences, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA 71245
| | - I V Ermakov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.,Current address: Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
| | - W Gellermann
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.,Current address: Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
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17
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Raut HK, Wang H, Ruan Q, Wang H, Fernandez JG, Yang JKW. Hierarchical Colorful Structures by Three-Dimensional Printing of Inverse Opals. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:8602-8608. [PMID: 34662137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c02483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Structural coloration is a recurring solution in biological systems to control visible light. In nature, basic structural coloration results from light interacting with a repetitive nanopattern, but more complex interactions and striking results are achieved by organisms incorporating additional hierarchical structures. Artificial reproduction of single-level structural color has been achieved using repetitive nanostructures, with flat sheets of inverse opals being very popular because of their simple and reliable fabrication process. Here, we control photonic structures at several length scales using a combination of direct laser writing and nanosphere assembly, producing freeform hierarchical constructions of inverse opals with high-intensity structural coloration. We report the first 3D prints of stacked, overhanging and slanted microstructures of inverse opals. Among other characteristics, these hierarchical photonic structures exhibit geometrically tunable colors, focal-plane-dependent patterns, and arbitrary alignment of microstructure facet with self-assembled lattice. Based on those results, novel concepts of multilevel information encoding systems are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Kumar Raut
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
| | - Hao Wang
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
| | - Qifeng Ruan
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
| | - Hongtao Wang
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
| | - Javier G Fernandez
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
| | - Joel K W Yang
- Division of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
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18
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McCoy DE, Shneidman AV, Davis AL, Aizenberg J. Finite-difference Time-domain (FDTD) Optical Simulations: A Primer for the Life Sciences and Bio-Inspired Engineering. Micron 2021; 151:103160. [PMID: 34678583 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Light influences most ecosystems on earth, from sun-dappled forests to bioluminescent creatures in the ocean deep. Biologists have long studied nano- and micro-scale organismal adaptations to manipulate light using ever-more sophisticated microscopy, spectroscopy, and other analytical equipment. In combination with experimental tools, simulations of light interacting with objects can help researchers determine the impact of observed structures and explore how variations affect optical function. In particular, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is widely used throughout the nanophotonics community to efficiently simulate light interacting with a variety of materials and optical devices. More recently, FDTD has been used to characterize optical adaptations in nature, such as camouflage in fish and other organisms, colors in sexually-selected birds and spiders, and photosynthetic efficiency in plants. FDTD is also common in bioengineering, as the design of biologically-inspired engineered structures can be guided and optimized through FDTD simulations. Parameter sweeps are a particularly useful application of FDTD, which allows researchers to explore a range of variables and modifications in natural and synthetic systems (e.g., to investigate the optical effects of changing the sizes, shape, or refractive indices of a structure). Here, we review the use of FDTD simulations in biology and present a brief methods primer tailored for life scientists, with a focus on the commercially available software Lumerical FDTD. We give special attention to whether FDTD is the right tool to use, how experimental techniques are used to acquire and import the structures of interest, and how their optical properties such as refractive index and absorption are obtained. This primer is intended to help researchers understand FDTD, implement the method to model optical effects, and learn about the benefits and limitations of this tool. Altogether, FDTD is well-suited to (i) characterize optical adaptations and (ii) provide mechanistic explanations; by doing so, it helps (iii) make conclusions about evolutionary theory and (iv) inspire new technologies based on natural structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota E McCoy
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anna V Shneidman
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Alexander L Davis
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Campus Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Joanna Aizenberg
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 9 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Qiang Wen
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Noam Pinsk
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
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20
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Stuart-Fox D, Rankin KJ, Lutz A, Elliott A, Hugall AF, McLean CA, Medina I. Environmental gradients predict the ratio of environmentally acquired carotenoids to self-synthesised pteridine pigments. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2207-2218. [PMID: 34350679 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids are important pigments producing integument colouration; however, their dietary availability may be limited in some environments. Many species produce yellow to red hues using a combination of carotenoids and self-synthesised pteridine pigments. A compelling hypothesis is that pteridines replace carotenoids in environments where carotenoid availability is limited. To test this hypothesis, we quantified concentrations of five carotenoid and six pteridine pigments in multiple skin colours and individuals from 27 species of agamid lizards. We show that environmental gradients predict the ratio of carotenoids to pteridines; carotenoid concentrations are lower and pteridine concentrations higher in arid environments with low vegetation productivity. Both carotenoid and pteridine pigments were present in all species, but only pteridine concentrations explained colour variation among species and there were no correlations between carotenoid and pteridine pigments with a similar hue. These results suggest that in arid environments, where carotenoids are likely limited, species may compensate by synthesising more pteridines but do not necessarily replace carotenoids with pteridines of similar hue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Adrian Lutz
- Metabolomics Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Adam Elliott
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hugall
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
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21
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Andrade P, Carneiro M. Pterin-based pigmentation in animals. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210221. [PMID: 34403644 PMCID: PMC8370806 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pterins are one of the major sources of bright coloration in animals. They are produced endogenously, participate in vital physiological processes and serve a variety of signalling functions. Despite their ubiquity in nature, pterin-based pigmentation has received little attention when compared to other major pigment classes. Here, we summarize major aspects relating to pterin pigmentation in animals, from its long history of research to recent genomic studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying its evolution. We argue that pterins have intermediate characteristics (endogenously produced, typically bright) between two well-studied pigment types, melanins (endogenously produced, typically cryptic) and carotenoids (dietary uptake, typically bright), providing unique opportunities to address general questions about the biology of coloration, from the mechanisms that determine how different types of pigmentation evolve to discussions on honest signalling hypotheses. Crucial gaps persist in our knowledge on the molecular basis underlying the production and deposition of pterins. We thus highlight the need for functional studies on systems amenable for laboratory manipulation, but also on systems that exhibit natural variation in pterin pigmentation. The wealth of potential model species, coupled with recent technological and analytical advances, make this a promising time to advance research on pterin-based pigmentation in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Andrade
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Miguel Carneiro
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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22
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Beck LM, Yallapragada VJ, Upcher A, Palmer BA, Addadi L, Oron D. Measuring the optical properties of nanoscale biogenic spherulites. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:20863-20871. [PMID: 34266166 DOI: 10.1364/oe.430376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies of optical reflectors as part of the vision apparatus in the eyes of decapod crustaceans revealed assemblies of nanoscale spherulites - spherical core-shell nanoparticles with radial birefringence. Simulations performed on the system highlighted the advantages of optical anisotropy in enhancing the functionality of these structures. So far, calculations of the nanoparticle optical properties have relied on refractive indices obtained using ab-initio calculations. Here we describe a direct measurement of the tangential refractive index of the spherulites, which corresponds to the in-plane refractive index of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanoplatelets. We utilize measurements of scattering spectra of individual spherulites and determine the refractive index by analyzing the spectral signatures of scattering resonances. Our measurements yield a median tangential refractive index of 1.88, which is in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. Furthermore, our results indicate that the optical properties of small spherulite assemblies are largely determined by the tangential index.
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23
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Hongjamrassilp W, Blumstein DT. Humans influence shrimp movement: a conservation behavior case study with “Shrimp Watching” ecotourism. Curr Zool 2021; 68:169-176. [PMID: 35355950 PMCID: PMC8962751 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
An increase in ecotourism adversely impacts many animals and contributes to biodiversity loss. To mitigate these impacts, we illustrate the application of a conservation behavior framework toward the development of a sustainable ecotourism management plan. In Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, thousands of tourists annually come to see a unique mass migration of shrimps on land (referred to as “shrimp parading”). Preliminary work suggests that this tourism has negatively impacted the shrimps. To reduce tourism-related impacts we studied: 1) the decisions shrimps make when parading and 2) how shrimps respond to different light intensities and colors. We created an artificial stream and tested the conditions that influence parading by experimentally varying the presence of light and systematically manipulating water velocity (10, 60, and 100 cm/s). Additionally, we conducted an in situ experiment to study how shrimps respond to tourists’ lights under three intensities (50,400, and 9,000 lux) and five colors (white, blue, green, orange, and red). We found most shrimps prefer to leave the river when it is dark and there is low water flow. Shrimps responded the least to red (λmax = 630 nm) and orange (λmax = 625 nm) light at 50 lux. These findings were used to develop a management plan by creating three different tourist zones, which maximize tourist needs and minimize the anthropogenic impacts on the shrimps. This work could be used as an example of the application of conservation behavior framework in developing management plan for sustainable ecotourism for other invertebrate taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Watcharapong Hongjamrassilp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
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24
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Schiffmann N, Wormser EM, Brumfeld V, Addadi Y, Pinkas I, Yallapragada VJ, Aflalo ED, Sagi A, Palmer BA, Weiner S, Addadi L. Characterization and possible function of an enigmatic reflector in the eye of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Faraday Discuss 2020; 223:278-294. [PMID: 32748932 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00044b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Reflective assemblies of high refractive index organic crystals are used to produce striking optical phenomena in organisms based on light reflection and scattering. In aquatic animals, organic crystal-based reflectors are used both for image-formation and to increase photon capture. Here we report the characterization of a poorly-documented reflector in the eye of the shrimp L. vannamei lying 150 μm below the retina, which we term the proximal reflective layer (PR-layer). The PR-layer is made from a dense but disordered array of polycrystalline isoxanthopterin nanoparticles, similar to those recently reported in the tapetum of the same animal. Each spherical nanoparticle is composed of numerous isoxanthopterin single crystal plates arranged in concentric lamellae around an aqueous core. The highly reflective plate faces of the crystals are all aligned tangentially to the particle surface with the optical axes projecting radially outwards, forming a birefringent spherulite which efficiently scatters light. The nanoparticle assemblies form a broadband reflective sheath around the screening pigments of the eye, resulting in pronounced eye-shine when the animal is viewed from a dorsal-posterior direction, rendering the eye pigments inconspicuous. We assess possible functions of the PR-layer and conclude that it likely functions as a camouflage device to conceal the dark eye pigments in an otherwise largely transparent animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Schiffmann
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Eyal Merary Wormser
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Vlad Brumfeld
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yoseph Addadi
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | | | - Eliahu D Aflalo
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel and Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, Arugot, Israel
| | - Amir Sagi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel and The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Steve Weiner
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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Claverie M, McReynolds C, Petitpas A, Thomas M, Fernandes SCM. Marine-Derived Polymeric Materials and Biomimetics: An Overview. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1002. [PMID: 32357448 PMCID: PMC7285066 DOI: 10.3390/polym12051002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The review covers recent literature on the ocean as both a source of biotechnological tools and as a source of bio-inspired materials. The emphasis is on marine biomacromolecules namely hyaluronic acid, chitin and chitosan, peptides, collagen, enzymes, polysaccharides from algae, and secondary metabolites like mycosporines. Their specific biological, physicochemical and structural properties together with relevant applications in biocomposite materials have been included. Additionally, it refers to the marine organisms as source of inspiration for the design and development of sustainable and functional (bio)materials. Marine biological functions that mimic reef fish mucus, marine adhesives and structural colouration are explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Claverie
- E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 64600 Anglet, France; (M.C.); (C.M.); (A.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Colin McReynolds
- E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 64600 Anglet, France; (M.C.); (C.M.); (A.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Arnaud Petitpas
- E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 64600 Anglet, France; (M.C.); (C.M.); (A.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Martin Thomas
- E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 64600 Anglet, France; (M.C.); (C.M.); (A.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Susana C. M. Fernandes
- E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 64600 Anglet, France; (M.C.); (C.M.); (A.P.); (M.T.)
- Department of Chemistry—Angstrom Laboratory, Polymer Chemistry, Uppsala University, Lagerhyddsvagen 1, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
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26
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Palmer BA, Yallapragada VJ, Schiffmann N, Wormser EM, Elad N, Aflalo ED, Sagi A, Weiner S, Addadi L, Oron D. A highly reflective biogenic photonic material from core-shell birefringent nanoparticles. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 15:138-144. [PMID: 31932761 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-019-0609-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Spectacular natural optical phenomena are produced by highly reflective assemblies of organic crystals. Here we show how the tapetum reflector in a shrimp eye is constructed from arrays of spherical isoxanthopterin nanoparticles and relate the particle properties to their optical function. The nanoparticles are composed of single-crystal isoxanthopterin nanoplates arranged in concentric lamellae around a hollow core. The spherulitic birefringence of the nanoparticles, which originates from the radial alignment of the plates, results in a significant enhancement of the back-scattering. This enables the organism to maximize the reflectivity of the ultrathin tapetum, which functions to increase the eye's sensitivity and preserve visual acuity. The particle size, core/shell ratio and packing are also controlled to optimize the intensity and spectral properties of the tapetum back-scattering. This system offers inspiration for the design of photonic crystals constructed from spherically symmetric birefringent particles for use in ultrathin reflectors and as non-iridescent pigments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | | | - Nathan Schiffmann
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal Merary Wormser
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nadav Elad
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eliahu D Aflalo
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, Arugot, Israel
| | - Amir Sagi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Steve Weiner
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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27
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Yallapragada VJ, Oron D. Optical properties of spherulite opals. OPTICS LETTERS 2019; 44:5860-5863. [PMID: 31774798 DOI: 10.1364/ol.44.005860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Spherulites are birefringent structures with spherical symmetry, typically observed in crystallized polymers. We compute the band structure of opals made of close-packed assemblies of highly birefringent spherulites. We demonstrate that spherulitic birefringence of constituent spheres does not affect the symmetries of an opal, yet significantly affects the dispersion of eigenmodes, leading to new pseudogaps in sections of the band structure and, consequently, enhanced reflectivity.
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28
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Zhang G, Hirsch A, Shmul G, Avram L, Elad N, Brumfeld V, Pinkas I, Feldman Y, Ben Asher R, Palmer BA, Kronik L, Leiserowitz L, Weiner S, Addadi L. Guanine and 7,8-Dihydroxanthopterin Reflecting Crystals in the Zander Fish Eye: Crystal Locations, Compositions, and Structures. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:19736-19745. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b08849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gan Zhang
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Anna Hirsch
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Guy Shmul
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Liat Avram
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Nadav Elad
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Vlad Brumfeld
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yishay Feldman
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Raz Ben Asher
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Leeor Kronik
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Leslie Leiserowitz
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Steve Weiner
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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29
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Animal Eyes: Filtering Out the Background. Curr Biol 2019; 29:R938-R941. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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30
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Long-Wavelength Reflecting Filters Found in the Larval Retinas of One Mantis Shrimp Family (Nannosquillidae). Curr Biol 2019; 29:3101-3108.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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31
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Palmer BA, Gur D, Weiner S, Addadi L, Oron D. The Organic Crystalline Materials of Vision: Structure-Function Considerations from the Nanometer to the Millimeter Scale. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1800006. [PMID: 29888511 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Vision mechanisms in animals, especially those living in water, are diverse. Many eyes have reflective elements that consist of multilayers of nanometer-sized crystalline plates, composed of organic molecules. The crystal multilayer assemblies owe their enhanced reflectivity to the high refractive indices of the crystals in preferred crystallographic directions. The high refractive indices are due to the molecular arrangements in their crystal structures. Herein, data regarding these difficult-to-characterize crystals are reviewed. This is followed by a discussion on the function of these crystalline assemblies, especially in visual systems whose anatomy has been well characterized under close to in vivo conditions. Three test cases are presented, and then the relations between the reflecting crystalline components and their functions, including the relations between molecular structure, crystal structure, and reflecting properties are discussed. Some of the underlying mechanisms are also discussed, and finally open questions in the field are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Dvir Gur
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Steve Weiner
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
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