Biomimetic Model Systems for Investigating the Amorphous Precursor Pathway and Its Role in Biomineralization

Gower, Laurie B.

doi:10.1021/cr800443h

Cited by 937 publications

(1,089 citation statements)

References 401 publications

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“…3b) forms a shell construction that provides a balance of strength and flexibility, which is crucial for maximum resilience and thus protection of the cell. Similar woven fibre structures are also seen elsewhere in biominerals, such as, sea urchin tooth calcite 17 . In particular, near identical structure is seen in vertebrate dental enamel fabric (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Exceptionally well-preserved Cretaceous microfossils reveal new biomineralization styles

Wendler

Bown

2013

Nat Commun

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Calcareous microplankton shells form the dominant components of ancient and modern pelagic sea-floor carbonates and are widely used in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The efficacy of these applications, however, is dependent upon minimal geochemical alteration during diagenesis, but these modifying processes are poorly understood. Here we report on new biomineralization architectures of previously unsuspected complexity in calcareous cell-wall coverings of extinct dinoflagellates (pithonellids) from a Tanzanian microfossil-lagerstätte. These Cretaceous 'calcispheres' have previously been considered biomineralogically unremarkable but our new observations show that the true nature of these tests has been masked by recrystallization. The pristine Tanzanian fossils are formed from fibre-like crystallites and show archeopyles and exquisitely constructed opercula, demonstrating the dinoflagellate affinity of pithonellids, which has long been uncertain. The interwoven fibre-like structures provide strength and flexibility enhancing the protective function of these tests. The low-density wall fabrics may represent specific adaptation for oceanic encystment life cycles, preventing the cells from rapid sinking.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Exceptionally well-preserved Cretaceous microfossils reveal new biomineralization styles

Wendler

Bown

2013

Nat Commun

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“…To assist in this function, species have developed both chemical and microstructural strategies in their evolutionary toolkit. Ultra-high mineralization 3,4 is an obvious choice to optimize the hardness and stiffness near free surfaces, and most species indeed fine-tune the biomineralization process such that the mineral phase at the free surface exhibits a combination of mechanical properties that is optimized for impact or abrasion tolerance 5,6 . Illustrative examples of this strategy include, among others, protective scales of fish 7 , the chiton radular teeth 8 or the external protective armour of deep-sea gastropods 9 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Textured fluorapatite bonded to calcium sulphate strengthen stomatopod raptorial appendages

et al. 2014

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Stomatopods are shallow-water crustaceans that employ powerful dactyl appendages to hunt their prey. Deployed at high velocities, these hammer-like clubs or spear-like devices are able to inflict substantial impact forces. Here we demonstrate that dactyl impact surfaces consist of a finely-tuned mineral gradient, with fluorapatite substituting amorphous apatite towards the outer surface. Raman spectroscopy measurements show that calcium sulphate, previously not reported in mechanically active biotools, is co-localized with fluorapatite. Ab initio computations suggest that fluorapatite/calcium sulphate interfaces provide binding stability and promote the disordered-to-ordered transition of fluorapatite. Nanomechanical measurements show that fluorapatite crystalline orientation correlates with an anisotropic stiffness response and indicate significant differences in the fracture tolerance between the two types of appendages. Our findings shed new light on the crystallochemical and microstructural strategies allowing these intriguing biotools to optimize impact forces, providing physicochemical information that could be translated towards the synthesis of impact-resistant functional materials and coatings.

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“…In the case of ovalbumin, a glycoprotein abundant in avian eggs and involved in shell development (Panheleux et al 1999), physiologically suitable contents (7.5 mg/mL) of this protein extensively stabilize a 'polymer-induced liquid precursor' (PILP) of CaCO 3 (Gower 2008;Wolf et al 2011). An interesting observation here is that lysozyme (with pI = 9.3) destabilizes the Fig.…”

Section: Crowded Solutions and Confinement: Impact On Nucleationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralization and non-ideality: on nature’s foundry

Rao¹,

Cölfen

2016

Biophys Rev

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Understanding how ions, ion-clusters and particles behave in non-ideal environments is a fundamental question concerning planetary to atomic scales. For biomineralization phenomena wherein diverse inorganic and organic ingredients are present in biological media, attributing biomaterial composition and structure to the chemistry of singular additives may not provide a holistic view of the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we specifically address the consequences of physico-chemical non-ideality on mineral formation. Influences of different forms of non-ideality such as macromolecular crowding, confinement and liquid-like organic phases on mineral nucleation and crystallization in biological environments are presented. Novel prospects for the additive-controlled nucleation and crystallization are accessible from this biophysical view. In this manner, we show that non-ideal conditions significantly affect the form, structure and composition of biogenic and biomimetic minerals.

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Biomimetic Model Systems for Investigating the Amorphous Precursor Pathway and Its Role in Biomineralization

Cited by 937 publications

References 401 publications

Exceptionally well-preserved Cretaceous microfossils reveal new biomineralization styles

Exceptionally well-preserved Cretaceous microfossils reveal new biomineralization styles

Textured fluorapatite bonded to calcium sulphate strengthen stomatopod raptorial appendages

Mineralization and non-ideality: on nature’s foundry

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