Transient precursor amorphous phases in biomineralization. In the footsteps of Heinz A. Lowenstam

Lia Addadi; Netta Vidavsky; Stephen Weiner

doi:10.1524/zkri.2012.1524

Transient precursor amorphous phases in biomineralization. In the footsteps of Heinz A. Lowenstam

Lia Addadi, Netta Vidavsky, Stephen Weiner

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Heinz A. Lowenstam's discovery in 1967, together with Ken Towe that the magnetite mineral in mature chiton teeth forms from a disordered transient precursor phase, ferrihydrite, remained an isolated curiosity for 30 years. During the last 15 years, many more examples were found in both invertebrates and vertebrates, where the mature crystalline mineral phase is formed through a transient amorphous precursor phase. Here we review this widespread phenomenon, and also describe the details of the transformation process in the formation of the calcitic spicules of the sea urchin larva.We identify many open questions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	711-717
Number of pages	7
Journal	Zeitschfrift fur Kristallographie
Volume	227
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1524/zkri.2012.1524
State	Published - 1 Nov 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Amorphous phase
Biomineralization
Calcium carbonate
Sea urchin spicule
Transient precursor phase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Inorganic Chemistry

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10.1524/zkri.2012.1524

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title = "Transient precursor amorphous phases in biomineralization. In the footsteps of Heinz A. Lowenstam",

abstract = "Heinz A. Lowenstam's discovery in 1967, together with Ken Towe that the magnetite mineral in mature chiton teeth forms from a disordered transient precursor phase, ferrihydrite, remained an isolated curiosity for 30 years. During the last 15 years, many more examples were found in both invertebrates and vertebrates, where the mature crystalline mineral phase is formed through a transient amorphous precursor phase. Here we review this widespread phenomenon, and also describe the details of the transformation process in the formation of the calcitic spicules of the sea urchin larva.We identify many open questions.",

keywords = "Amorphous phase, Biomineralization, Calcium carbonate, Sea urchin spicule, Transient precursor phase",

author = "Lia Addadi and Netta Vidavsky and Stephen Weiner",

note = "Funding Information: the cryo-SEM micrographs. This work was supported by a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DIP Programme grant and by the Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences at WIS. L.A. is the incumbent of the Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professorial Chair of Biological Ultrastructure, and S.W. of the Dr. Trude Burchardt Professorial Chair of Structural Biology.",

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AU - Addadi, Lia

AU - Vidavsky, Netta

AU - Weiner, Stephen

N1 - Funding Information: the cryo-SEM micrographs. This work was supported by a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DIP Programme grant and by the Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences at WIS. L.A. is the incumbent of the Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professorial Chair of Biological Ultrastructure, and S.W. of the Dr. Trude Burchardt Professorial Chair of Structural Biology.

PY - 2012/11/1

Y1 - 2012/11/1

N2 - Heinz A. Lowenstam's discovery in 1967, together with Ken Towe that the magnetite mineral in mature chiton teeth forms from a disordered transient precursor phase, ferrihydrite, remained an isolated curiosity for 30 years. During the last 15 years, many more examples were found in both invertebrates and vertebrates, where the mature crystalline mineral phase is formed through a transient amorphous precursor phase. Here we review this widespread phenomenon, and also describe the details of the transformation process in the formation of the calcitic spicules of the sea urchin larva.We identify many open questions.

AB - Heinz A. Lowenstam's discovery in 1967, together with Ken Towe that the magnetite mineral in mature chiton teeth forms from a disordered transient precursor phase, ferrihydrite, remained an isolated curiosity for 30 years. During the last 15 years, many more examples were found in both invertebrates and vertebrates, where the mature crystalline mineral phase is formed through a transient amorphous precursor phase. Here we review this widespread phenomenon, and also describe the details of the transformation process in the formation of the calcitic spicules of the sea urchin larva.We identify many open questions.

KW - Amorphous phase

KW - Biomineralization

KW - Calcium carbonate

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Transient precursor amorphous phases in biomineralization. In the footsteps of Heinz A. Lowenstam

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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