title: Structural relationship between the primary crystal formations and the matrix macromolecules in different hard tissues. Discussion of a general principle.
abstract: For many years we have investigated the earliest crystal formations of different developing hard tissues (matrix vesicle, bone, dentine, enamel, etc.) by different electron microscopic measurements. It was observed that primarily Ca-phosphate (apatite) "chains," composed of nanometer sized particles (dots, islands), exist, which coalesce rapidly to needles. For the mineralization of collagen (e.g., bone, dentine) the center to center distances between the dots in the mineral chains represent the distances between nucleating sites, so-called "active sites" of collagen which bind primarily Ca for a subsequent nucleation. For the mineralization of noncollagen macromolecules (e.g., enamel) the same principle of mineral nucleation at such "active sites" exists being represented indirectly by corresponding center to center distances between the dots in the mineral chains.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Höhling
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Barckhaus
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Plate
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003461:Crystallography; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009805:Odontogenesis; D010012:Osteogenesis; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D003094:Collagen