title: Transient precursor strategy or very small biological apatite crystals?
abstract: The mechanisms of skeletal mineralization have been studied and debated for decades. Recent Raman spectroscopic identification of octacalcium phosphate-like phosphate ions and possibly amorphous calcium phosphate ions in nascent bone mineral were claimed to support a transient precursor strategy for bone apatite formation. However, this data does not refute the theory that the newest, detectable bone mineral is very small, poorly crystalline biological apatite, because non-apatitic phosphate species have previously been identified in biological apatite and detected on the surfaces of nano-sized hydroxyapatite crystals.
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Grynpas
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omelon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C519480:amorphous calcium phosphate