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. 1985 Jun;82(12):4110–4114. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.12.4110

Interactions between acidic proteins and crystals: stereochemical requirements in biomineralization.

L Addadi, S Weiner
PMCID: PMC397944  PMID: 3858868

Abstract

Acidic matrix macromolecules are intimately involved in biological crystal growth. In vitro experiments, in which crystals of calcium dicarboxylate salts were grown in the presence of aspartic acid-rich proteins, revealed a stereochemical property common to all the interacting faces. Calcite crystals are nucleated on stereochemically analogous faces when proteins are adsorbed onto a rigid substrate. The importance of this property in biomineralization is discussed.

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Selected References

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