title: Mineralization of CaCO3 in the presence of egg white lysozyme.
abstract: The influence of egg white lysozyme on the size, shape, crystallography, and chemical composition of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles obtained from aqueous CaCl2-dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-NaOH solutions was studied. At the onset of precipitation, the presence of lysozyme led to much smaller particles (50-400 nm spherical amorphous lysozyme-calcium carbonate particles (Ly-ACC)) than those obtained from lysozyme-free solution. The nanospheres were in some cases aggregated and in addition embedded in a faint network. Their size and interconnection depended on the concentration of egg white lysozyme. When the Ly-ACC particles were left in contact with the mother liquor (CaCl2/DMC/NaOH/lysozyme solution) for 24 h, they transformed directly and exclusively into crystalline calcite. The observed results may be of relevance for a better understanding of the role of lysozyme in the process of eggshell mineralization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alina E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Voinescu
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Touraud
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecker
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfitzner
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: Barry W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ninham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002645:Chickens; D003460:Crystallization; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry*; D004529:Egg White / Q000737:chemistry*; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D008903:Minerals; D012996:Solutions; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D009113:Muramidase; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; C023025:methyl carbonate; D002122:Calcium Chloride