title: Yolk spherocrystal: the structure, composition and liquid crystal template.
abstract: The structure and composition of the yolk spherocrystal, a biomineral developed in the egg yolk sac during the incubation of a chicken embryo, were investigated through various modern analytical methods. Additionally, inside the yolk sac, yolk liquid crystal, a liquid crystalline phase of lipid developed during the incubation of the embryo, was found and investigated. The spherocrystal was found to be a composite composed of calcium carbonate (vaterite and calcite, primarily the former) and the yolk liquid crystal, which is believed to act as an organic template for spherocrystals mineralization, in a concentric multi-layered sphere structure. Moreover, the yolk liquid crystal was found to have a concentric multi-layered spherical structure and a composition consistent with lecithin. We believed that the spherocrystals function as a reservoir for the storage of calcium in the egg yolk sac during the development of the embryo.
authors.affiliation: College of chemistry and molecular sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Wentao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guirong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Lianxin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jiming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054709:Lecithins; D008055:Lipids; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D054709:Lecithins; D008055:Lipids; D008903:Minerals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate