Mineralization of CaCO3 in the presence of egg white lysozyme

Langmuir. 2007 Nov 20;23(24):12269-74. doi: 10.1021/la701892v. Epub 2007 Oct 20.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Carbonate / chemistry*
  • Calcium Chloride / chemistry
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Chickens
  • Crystallization
  • Egg Shell / chemistry*
  • Egg White / chemistry*
  • Formates / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Minerals / chemistry*
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Sodium Hydroxide / chemistry
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Formates
  • Minerals
  • Solutions
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Muramidase
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • methyl carbonate
  • Calcium Chloride