Marine Polysaccharide Networks and Diatoms at the Nanometric Scale

摘要: Despite many advances in research on photosynthetic carbon fixation marine diatoms, the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of extracellular polysaccharide production remain significant challenges to be resolved at molecular scale order proceed toward an understanding their functions cellular level, as well interactions fate ocean. This review covers studies diatom polysaccharides using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging quantification physical forces. Following a brief summary basic principle AFM experiment first polymeric substance (EPS), we focus detection supramolecular structures systems produced by diatoms. Extracellular fibrils, attached cell wall or released into surrounding seawater, form distinct assemblies best described gel networks. makes characterization networks micro nanometric scales clear distinction between self-assembly self-organization these complex environments possible.