Molecular Mechanisms of Biomineralization in the Formation of Calcified Shells

Krampitz, G.; Graser, Gabriele

doi:10.1002/anie.198811451

Cited by 68 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Simkiss & Wilbur (1977) and Krampitz & Graser (1988) give a more detailed review on the anatomical compartments and molecular mechanisms involved with biomineralization, respectively.…”

Section: Shell Secretion and Trace Metal Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

Mytilus edulis shell as a bioindicator of lead pollution considerations on bioavailability and variability

Bourgoin¹

1990

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The nacre of Mytilus edulis is introduced as an alternative to soft tissues for trace metal analyses in biological monitoring programs. The lnner nacreous shell and soft tissues of mussels collected near a Pb smelter were analyzed for Pb and compared with the total-Pb content in suspended particulate matter (SPM). The results indlcate that shells can provide an index of Pb bioavailability as the nacre-Pb levels were strongly correlated (p < 0.001) with the tissue-Pb concentrations. Although nacre sequesters ca one tenth of the Pb measured in the tissues, the statistical variability associated with nacre-Pb levels is half that calculated for the tissues. Consequently, nacre-Pb levels offer a comparatively better relationshp with the SPM Pb-content and also prov~de a significantly better spatial resolution. How other biophysical parameters such as mussel age, size, and littoral zonation may affect mussel Pb concentrations are also discussed.

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“…Simkiss & Wilbur (1977) and Krampitz & Graser (1988) give a more detailed review on the anatomical compartments and molecular mechanisms involved with biomineralization, respectively.…”

Section: Shell Secretion and Trace Metal Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

Mytilus edulis shell as a bioindicator of lead pollution considerations on bioavailability and variability

Bourgoin¹

1990

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Although such composites in hard tissues are formed under mild conditions, they exhibit unusual mechanical properties that outperform synthetic materials (1,2). How can biomineral nanocrystallites be assembled to form a synergetic structure?…”

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Kinetics and Template Nucleation of Self-Assembled Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystallites by Chondroitin Sulfate

Jiang

Liu

Zhang

et al. 2005

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Biomineralization is an important process, which is often assisted by biomolecules. In this paper, the effect of chondroitin sulfate on the crystallization of hydroxyapatite was examined quantitatively based on a generic heterogeneous nucleation model. It is found that chondroitin sulfate can suppress the supersaturation-driven interfacial structure mismatch between the hydroxyapatite crystal and the substrate and promote the formation of ordered hydroxyapatite nanocrystallite assemblies. The nucleation mechanism of selfaligned hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites was examined from the viewpoints of kinetics and interfacial structure and properties, which contributes to an understanding of the fundamentals of biomineralization of self-assembled structures. The results obtained from this study will provide a basic principle to design and fabricate highly orderly organic-inorganic hybrid materials.Natural materials such as bones and teeth consist of biocomposites with well organized and assembled hydroxyapatite (HAP 2 ; Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH) nanobiominerals, to perform important biological functions. Although such composites in hard tissues are formed under mild conditions, they exhibit unusual mechanical properties that outperform synthetic materials (1, 2). How can biomineral nanocrystallites be assembled to form a synergetic structure? Why are some molecules, in particular biomacromolecules, capable of fabricating different patterns of biominerals? Recently, these questions concerning the biological mechanisms that control mineralized tissue construction have attracted a great deal of attention in fields ranging from biology and chemistry to materials science and bioengineering (3-7).It is well documented that the ordered structures in mineralized tissues appeared to originate from organized assemblies of biomacromolecules, such as proteins, polysaccharides, or proteoglycans, and inorganic compound salts (8 -10). Previous studies indicate that some biomacromolecules are involved in controlling the nucleation, growth, size, and shape of the mineral phases (11), since they can act as templates through self-assembly to facilitate interaction with an insoluble matrix and to induce the desired stereochemistry for the construction of organized structures (12, 13). Normally, these molecules are functionalized with acidic groups such as carboxylic acid, sulfonate, and phosphate moieties, which enable them to become an effective metal ion chelator to combine with the inorganic matrix (14 -16). Chondroitin 4-sulfate (ChS) is just one of these biomolecules. It belongs to the family of glycosaminoglycans, which can be found on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix of cartilage and bone. Large amounts of it in the cartilage permit diffusion of substances between blood and vessels. ChS consists of repeated disaccharide units; one of the two monosaccharides is N-acetylgalactosamine sulfate (GalNAc-OSO 3 Ϫ ), and the other is glucuronic acid that contains a carboxylate group (cf. Fig. 1). Previous investigation indicated that ...

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“…Organisms are capable of developing minerals and biocomposites with complex architecture to fulfill important biological functions, such as skeletal support, protection of soft tissues, and food grinding (1)(2)(3)(4). Often, survival of the organism depends on the structure and strength of these composite materials.…”

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Purification, Characterization, and in VitroMineralization Studies of a Novel Goose Eggshell Matrix Protein, Ansocalcin

Lakshminarayanan

Valiyaveettil

Rao

et al. 2003

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Biomineralization is an important process in which hard tissues are generated through mineral deposition, often assisted by biomacromolecules. Eggshells, because of their rapid formation via mineralization, are chosen as a model for understanding the fundamentals of biomineralization. This report discusses purification and characterization of various proteins and peptides from goose eggshell matrix. A novel 15-kDa protein (ansocalcin) was extracted from the eggshell matrix, purified, and identified and its role in mineralization evaluated using in vitro crystal growth experiments. The complete amino acid sequence of ansocalcin showed high homology to ovocleidin-17, a chicken eggshell protein, and to C-type lectins from snake venom. The amino acid sequence of ansocalcin was characterized by the presence of acidic and basic amino acid multiplets. In vitro crystallization experiments showed that ansocalcin induced pits on the rhombohedral faces at lower concentrations (<50 g/ml). At higher concentrations, the nucleation of calcite crystal aggregates was observed. Molecular weight determinations by size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate -polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed reversible concentrationdependent aggregation of ansocalcin in solution. We propose that such aggregated structures may act as a template for the nucleation of calcite crystal aggregates. Similar aggregation of calcite crystals was also observed when crystallizations were performed in the presence of whole goose eggshell extract. These results show that ansocalcin plays a significant role in goose eggshell calcification.Organisms are capable of developing minerals and biocomposites with complex architecture to fulfill important biological functions, such as skeletal support, protection of soft tissues, and food grinding (1-4). Often, survival of the organism depends on the structure and strength of these composite materials. Due to the wide range of mechanical and functional properties of these biocomposites, identifying the organic and inorganic components and understanding the structure-function relationships have potential industrial and biotechnological applications (5). The inorganic mineral phase of such materials is formed over an insoluble organic matrix or mold, and the mineral phase is intimately associated with organic macromolecules, such as proteins/glycoproteins, polysaccharides, or proteoglycans (6). These biomacromolecules are highly acidic in nature and have been postulated to control nucleation, growth, crystal size, and shape of the mineral phases (7).Mann (8) classified the biologically programmed composites into four types (types I, II, III, and IV), based on matrix intervention in nucleation and growth processes. Avian eggshells form type II biocomposites, which is the fastest forming hard acellular composite in nature. For example, in the case of chicken eggshell, about 5 g of the mineral phase is produced within 24 h (9). Their calcified layer consists of ϳ95% mineral and ϳ5% organic phase (10). The ...

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Molecular Mechanisms of Biomineralization in the Formation of Calcified Shells

Cited by 68 publications

References 78 publications

Mytilus edulis shell as a bioindicator of lead pollution considerations on bioavailability and variability

Mytilus edulis shell as a bioindicator of lead pollution considerations on bioavailability and variability

Kinetics and Template Nucleation of Self-Assembled Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystallites by Chondroitin Sulfate

Purification, Characterization, and in VitroMineralization Studies of a Novel Goose Eggshell Matrix Protein, Ansocalcin

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