Molecular analyses of protein components of the organic matrix in the exoskeleton of two scleractinian coral species

Colloid-chemical processes in the growth and design of the bio-inorganic aragonite structure in the scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa

“…In addition, Ala and Gly were shown to be the next most abundant amino acids in the identified peptides (from 15 to 40%). This is in agreement with studies showing that some proteins in scleractinians do not contain a high fraction of acidic amino acids; they are rather rich in Cys, Ser, Gly, and Ala [55][56][57].…”

Proteomic analysis of skeletal organic matrix from the stony coral Stylophora pistillata

“…SOM is retained in the coral skeleton and the amino acid composition of the protein fraction indicates that the SOM is distinct from cellular or mucus protein (25,26). To date, only one coral SOM protein, galaxin, has been fully sequenced and its role in the biomineralization process is not well understood because it does not bind calcium (27). Other proteins hypothesized to play a role in the mineralizing space between the calicoblastic cells and the skeleton include carbonic anhydrases (28), collagen (12), ion transporters (29), cysteine-rich proteins (30), von Willebrand factor type A domain-containing proteins and zona pellucidas (31), and secreted acidic proteins (18,32).…”

Structure, crystallization and mineral composition of sclerites in the alcyonarian coral

“…Very recently, Dauphin [12] reported on the control of the morphology and the chemical composition of calcitic bio-crystals in two Corallium species (Alcyonacea). Compared to the information available on stony corals, molluscans, calcareous algae and other matrices [3,[13][14][15][16][17][18] aspartic acid and often in association with sulfated polysaccharides) are assembled on the framework [19]. It remains important to better understand the role of these matrix fractions in calcification.…”