STUDIES ON THE MINERALIZATION OF THE CALCIFIED TISSUE IN MOLLUSCS-IV

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
1) The selective fixation of 45Ca in deposits formed on coverslip preparations obtained in several marine molluscs was investigated with radioautographic stripping film, and the mineralization of the organic matrix, especially the nucleation of mineral phase, was discussed on the basis of the obtained results. 2) The labeled calcium may be selectively localized in the acid mucopolysaccharides in the organic matrix, and deposit concentrically in the metachromatic organic crystals from which a remarkable large polycrystalline appears to be crystallized before long. 3) It was supposed that the metachromatic substances combined with certain amino acid side groups in the conchiolin protein may act as the specific sites for the crystal nucleation under certain conditions. 4) The distribution of 45Ca within mineral crystals may indicate the mode of crystal growth. 5) The metachromatic organic crystals revealed the reticulated structure resembledd to that of the Pinctada shell conchiolin and were essentially similar to the underlying ground matrix on morphological viewpoint. The author expresses his sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Toshio SUDOU of Tokyo University of Education for his useful advices and encouragement.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: