Crystal orientation preference and formation mechanism of nacreous layer in mussel

Using a new and simple etching method to investigate the tablets of nacre, it is possible to observe a great deal of tablets in a large range. We found that most tablets have the same formal orientations after citric acid treatment. This phenomenon occurred not only in the same lamina but also along...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of crystal growth Vol. 258; no. 3; pp. 402 - 408
Main Authors Hou, W.T., Feng, Q.L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2003
Elsevier
Subjects
A1. Biomineralization
A1. Crystal orientations
A1. Etching
A3. Mineral bridges
A3. Structural correspondence
B1. Aragonite
Biological and medical sciences
Crystalline structure
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Molecular biophysics
Structure in molecular biology
A1. Biomineralization
A3. Structural correspondence
B1. Aragonite
81.10.Aj
A1. Etching
81.65.Cf
87.64.Dz
A1. Crystal orientations
A3. Mineral bridges
Mussel
87.64.Dz A1. Biomineralization
Bivalvia
81.65,Cf
Mother of pearl
Invertebrata
Mollusca
Crystalline structure
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Summary:Using a new and simple etching method to investigate the tablets of nacre, it is possible to observe a great deal of tablets in a large range. We found that most tablets have the same formal orientations after citric acid treatment. This phenomenon occurred not only in the same lamina but also along the direction perpendicular to nacreous plane. Based on the additional selected area diffraction patterns of transmission electron microscope, it is proposed that the formal orientations could indicate the crystal orientations of aragonite tablets. Statistical analyze shows that there is a main (type I tablets) and a secondary (type II tablets) preferred orientation with an angle of around 60° between them. Two possible modes of structural correspondence between protein sheets and aragonite lattice are assumed to interpret the orientation preference. On the other hand, the cluster character of type II tablets strongly supports that mineral bridges of the organic matrix have significant function in the crystal growth. At last, the mechanisms of structural correspondence and mineral bridges are combined to explain the formation process of nacreous layer in mussel.
ISSN:0022-0248
1873-5002
DOI:10.1016/S0022-0248(03)01551-3