Soluble organic matrices of aragonitic skeletons of Merulinidae (Cnidaria, Anthozoa).
Our interpretation of the overall taxonomy and evolution of the Scleractinia, the most important reef builders in tropical areas, has long depended exclusively on morphology of the calcareous skeletons. The reported series of physical and biochemical characterizations of skeletons and the mineralizing matrices extracted from the skeletons allow, for the first time, the level of biochemical diversity among corallites of the same family to be estimated. Similarities and differences observed in the micro- and nanostructures of the skeletons reflect those of the soluble organic matrices. Sulphur is mainly associated with sulphated acidic sugars. The role of sulphated sugars on the biomineralization processes is still underestimated. The resulting data suggest that environmental conditions may act on the mineralization process through the detailed compositions of the mineralizing matrices.
Dauphin
Yannicke
Y
UMR 8148-IDES, Université Paris XI, Orsay, France. yannicke.dauphin@u-psud.fr
Cuif
Jean-Pierre
JP
Williams
C Terry
CT
D000165:Acridine Orange; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008903:Minerals; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012834:Silver; D012995:Solubility; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D008903:Minerals; D012834:Silver; D000165:Acridine Orange; D002119:Calcium Carbonate