M. Azizur Rahman and Tamotsu Oomori
Influence of Cellfree Proteins in the Nucleation of CaCO3 Crystals in Calcified Endoskeleton
427 - 431
2009
3
8
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
https://publications.waset.org/pdf/15293
https://publications.waset.org/vol/32
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
Calcite aCalcite and aragonite are the two common
polymorphs of CaCO3 observed as biominerals. It is universal that
the sea water contents a high Mg2 (50mM) relative to Ca2 (10mM).
In vivo crystallization, Mg2 inhibits calcite formation. For this
reason, stony corals skeleton may be formed only aragonite crystals
in the biocalcification. It is special in case of soft corals of which
formed only calcite crystal; however, this interesting phenomenon,
still uncharacterized in the marine environment, has been explored in
this study using newly purified cellfree proteins isolated from the
endoskeletal sclerites of soft coral. By recording the decline of pH in
vitro, the control of CaCO3 nucleation and crystal growth by the cellfree
proteins was revealed. Using Atomic Force Microscope, here we
find that these endoskeletal cellfree proteins significantly design the
morphological shape in the molecularscale kinetics of crystal
formation and those proteins act as surfactants to promote ion
attachment at calcite steps.nd aragonite are the two common polymorphs of CaCO3 observed as biominerals. It is universal that the sea water contents a high Mg2 (50mM) relative to Ca2 (10mM). In vivo crystallization, Mg2 inhibits calcite formation. For this reason, stony corals skeleton may be formed only aragonite crystals in the biocalcification. It is special in case of soft corals of which formed only calcite crystal; however, this interesting phenomenon, still uncharacterized in the marine environment, has been explored in this study using newly purified cellfree proteins isolated from the endoskeletal sclerites of soft coral. By recording the decline of pH in vitro, the control of CaCO3 nucleation and crystal growth by the cellfree proteins was revealed. Using Atomic Force Microscope, here we find that these endoskeletal cellfree proteins significantly design the morphological shape in the molecularscale kinetics of crystal formation and those proteins act as surfactants to promote ion attachment at calcite steps. KeywordsBiomineralization, Calcite, Cellfree protein, Soft coral
Open Science Index 32, 2009