Unraveling the 3D structural organization of Fireworm chaetae fibers: from structure to function

Fireworms are a type of marine bristleworm that have long, slender bodies that can grow up to 35 centimeters in length, and they are covered in many small, hair-like structures called chaetae. These chaetae are specialized bristles that are involved in locomotion, defense, and other functions. These bristles are composed of a mineralized structure that is formed through the process of biomineralization. Not much research has been performed to date on the structure and mineralization of the chaetae. We have preliminary revealed that the mineral is organized in a beautiful 3D hexagonal packing along the fibers and that other than calcite various unknown mineral phases exist. Herein we propose to study the 3D structural organization along the fiber via SAXS/WAX on the microdiffrcation beamline ID13 as well as the mineral composition lattice strains in the mineral on ID22. In situ kinetics of the strain relaxation and crystallization of the amorphous phase will also be carried out.