Overview of the amorphous precursor phase strategy in biomineralization

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Steve Weiner - , Weizmann Institute of Science (Autor:in)
  • Julia Mahamid - , Weizmann Institute of Science (Autor:in)
  • Yael Politi - , Weizmann Institute of Science (Autor:in)
  • Yurong Ma - , Weizmann Institute of Science (Autor:in)
  • Lia Addadi - , Weizmann Institute of Science (Autor:in)

Abstract

It was assumed for a long time that organisms produce minerals directly from a saturated solution. A few exceptions were known, including the well documented mineralized teeth of the chiton. In 1997 it was demon-strated that sea urchin larvae form their calcitic spicules by first depositing a highly unstable mineral phase called amorphous calcium carbonate. This strategy has since been shown to be used by animals from other phyla and for both aragonite and calcite. Recent evidence shows that vertebrate bone mineral may also be formed via a precursor phase of amorphous calcium carbonate. This strategy thus appears to be widespread. The challenge now is to understand the mechanisms by which these unstable phases are initially formed, how they are temporarily stabilized and how they are destabilized and transform into a crystalline mature product.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)104-108
Seitenumfang5
Fachzeitschrift Frontiers of materials science in China : selected publications from Chinese universities
Jahrgang3
Ausgabenummer2
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Juni 2009
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2872-8277/work/142239174

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Schlagwörter

  • Amorphous calcium carbonate, Calcium carbonate, Precursor phase