Scanning electron micrographs of frustules from some algae species - scale bar = 10 micrometres in a,c and d and 20 micrometres in b
A frustule is the hard and porous cell wall or external layer of diatoms. The frustule is composed almost purely of silica, made from silicic acid, and is coated with a layer of organic substance, which was referred to in the early literature on diatoms as pectin, a fiber most commonly found in cell walls of plants.[1][2] This layer is actually composed of several types of polysaccharides.[3]
The frustule's structure is usually composed of two overlapping sections known as thecae (or less formally as valves). The joint between the two thecae is supported by bands of silica (girdle bands) that hold them together. This overlapping allows for some internal expansion room and is essential during the reproduction process. The frustule also contains many pores called areolae and slits that provide the diatom access to the external environment for processes such as waste removal and mucilage secretion.
The microstructural analysis of the frustules shows that the pores are of various sizes, shapes and volume. The majority of the pores are open and do not contain impurities. The dimensions of the nanopores are in the range 250–600 nm.[4][5][6]
^"Diatoms: More on Morphology".
^Parker, Andrew R.; Townley, Helen E. (3 June 2007). "Biomimetics of photonic nanostructures". Nature Nanotechnology. 2 (6): 347–353. Bibcode:2007NatNa...2..347P. doi:10.1038/nnano.2007.152. PMID 18654305.
^Progress in Phycological Research: v. 7 (1991) by F.E. Round (Volume editor), David J. Chapman (Volume editor)
^Reka, Arianit; Anovski, Todor; Bogoevski, Slobodan; Pavlovski, Blagoj; Boškovski, Boško (29 December 2014). "Physical-chemical and mineralogical-petrographic examinations of diatomite from deposit near village of Rožden, Republic of Macedonia". Geologica Macedonica. 28 (2): 121–126.
^Reka, Arianit A.; Pavlovski, Blagoj; Makreski, Petre (October 2017). "New optimized method for low-temperature hydrothermal production of porous ceramics using diatomaceous earth". Ceramics International. 43 (15): 12572–12578. doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.06.132.
^Reka, Arianit A.; Pavlovski, Blagoj; Ademi, Egzon; Jashari, Ahmed; Boev, Blazo; Boev, Ivan; Makreski, Petre (31 December 2019). "Effect Of Thermal Treatment Of Trepel At Temperature Range 800-1200˚C". Open Chemistry. 17 (1): 1235–1243. doi:10.1515/chem-2019-0132.
A frustule is the hard and porous cell wall or external layer of diatoms. The frustule is composed almost purely of silica, made from silicic acid, and...
cell wall made of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide), called a frustule. These frustules produce structural coloration, prompting them to be described...
-2). Their frustules remain undissolved because they are surrounded by an organic matrix. Clay minerals may also precipitate on the frustules and protect...
known as diatoms construct their exoskeletons ("frustules") from silica extracted from seawater. The frustules of dead diatoms are a major constituent of deep...
Diatoms have glass like cell walls made of silica and called frustules. Fossil diatom frustule from 32 to 40 mya Radiolarian Single-celled alga, Gephyrocapsa...
known as frustules or valves) from silicic acid. Significantly, relative to the organic cell walls produced by other groups, silica frustules require less...
protected with mineralized shells or tests. Diatoms have glass shells (frustules) and produce much of the world's oxygen. The elaborate silica shells of...
(glass) are common in marine biominerals, where diatoms and radiolaria form frustules from hydrated amorphous silica (opal). The major carbonate in biominerals...
the limited availability of silicon, a necessary constituent of diatom frustules. As a consequence of these blooms, benthic macrophyte populations were...
protective silica (glass) shells called frustules. The beautifully engineered and intricate structure of many of these frustules is such that they are often referred...
groups of diatoms it refers to microscopically punctured regions of the frustule, or outer layer. In certain groups of spider species, so-called cribellate...
protein (SIT) to be predominantly used in the cell wall structure as frustules. Silicon enters the ocean in a dissolved form such as silicic acid or...
the polyp and grow. Limnomedusae polyps can asexually produce a creeping frustule larval form, which crawls away before developing into another polyp. A...
tactic for adverse conditions by producing dense spores with thick silica frustules that can sink cells out of the surface, typically high in light and temperature...
(invertebrates and vertebrates). Prominent examples include: Tests or frustules (i.e. shells) of diatoms, Radiolaria, and testate amoebae. Silica phytoliths...
Like other diatoms, Gyrosigma has a siliceous cell wall called a frustule. The frustule is composed of two sections called valves, with one valve fitting...
produced by cell division inherits one of the two valves that make up the frustule (a silica cell wall), and then grows a smaller valve within it. Consequently...
planktology, a theca is a subcellular structural component out of which the frustules of diatoms and dinoflagellates are constructed. Intrathecal Thecal sac...
Diatoms have glass like cell walls made of silica and called frustules. Fossil diatom frustule from 32 to 40 mya Radiolarian Single-celled alga, Gephyrocapsa...
incorporating them subepidermally, while separating and digesting the frustule and remainder of the diatom. In B. solaris the extracted plastids, or kleptoplasts...
Global Information