Interfacial aspects of biomineralization

The identification of crystal planes that can specifically interact with mineralized tissue proteins, together with the detailed biochemical analysis of these proteins, has shown how the organic matrix can direct the formation of biological crystals. Recent studies have identified protein sequences and conformations associated with the nucleation of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate crystals, determined how nucleation from a specific crystal face can cause alignment of crystallographic axes with matrix structures, and demonstrated several mechanisms by which the growth habits of biogenic crystals may be controlled by components of the organic matrix.