title: Structure and composition of the aragonitic crossed lamellar layers in six species of Bivalvia and Gastropoda.
abstract: The microstructures, the chemical composition and the soluble organic matrices of the aragonitic crossed lamellar layers of the shells of six species of molluscs have been studied. The microstructures and chemical contents are similar, whereas the quantities of organic matrices are variable. All the soluble matrices are glycoproteins, with low S contents. Their molecular weights, the protein-sugar ratios and acidities are variable. Neither a gastropod nor a bivalve pattern is recognized. The diversity of the organic matrices probably plays a main role in the fossilization processes of mollusc shells.
authors.affiliation: UMR 8616, Laboratoire de Paléontologie, Université Paris XI, Bât. 504, Orsay F-91405, France. dauphin@geophy.geol.u-psud.fr
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dauphin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D008974:Mollusca / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate