Biomineralization, molecular mechanism

S. J. A. Fatemi, F. H. A. Kadir, D. J. Williamson, and G. R. Moore, Adv. Inorg. Chem., 1991, 26, 409 R. B. Frankel and R. P. Blakemore eds, Iron Biominerals , Plenum Press, New York, 1991 Subcommittee on Iron, Division of Medical Sciences Assembly of Life Sciences, National Research Council, Iron , University Park Press, Baltimore, 1978 E. J. Underwood, Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition , 2nd edn., Academic Press, New York, 1962 R. Crichton, Inorganic Biochemistry of Iron Metabolism, From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Consequences , 2nd edn., Wiley, New York, 2001. 

First, a review of the properties and the structure of silk is given followed by a discussion on the relationship between molecular composition, assembled protein structure, and mechanical properties. Second, artificial spinning of silk proteins and their bioapplications are emphasized. Finally, the potential role of silk proteins in biomineralization is introduced and discussed. 

In addition to the molecular localization of apatite in vertebrate tissues, we hasten to point out that the quest to understand and control, or at least modulate, the mechanisms of bone biomineralization with its many facets and levels of mineral deposition continue. The intricate... 

There are, however, some a priori arguments which favour non-epitaxial processes as the major mechanism of oriented overgrowth of biominerals from ion precipitation at organic surfaces. Firstly, epitaxis requires a rigid two-dimensional atomic net whereas non-epitaxial deposition can be achieved from a more flexible surface on which there are specific molecular configiirations of polypeptide side chains. For example, it has been suggested that the deposition of apatite within the 640 A ( hole ) zones between colla-... 

It is seen that complex mechanisms are involved in die formation of these hierarchical materials. Similar to the structure motives on different length-scales cells, vesicles, supra-molecular structures, and biomolecules are involved in the structuring process of inoiganic matter occurring in nature. This process is commonly known as biomineralization [73]. 

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