Calcium Carbonate Binding of Perlucin by Molecular Modeling Supported by Atomic Force Microscopic Measurements

通过原子力显微测量支持的分子建模研究碳酸钙与透明素的结合

• 批准号: 120428509
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Monika Fritz
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für Biophysik
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2008-12-31 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/120428509?language=en
• 关键词: Calcium; Carbonate; Binding; Perlucin; Molecular

Nacre is a non-brittle, fiber-reinforced, corrosion resistant ceramic synthesized by organisms at ambient conditions. In this polymer/mineral-composite chitin forms a framework and different proteins control mineral growth. One of these proteins involved in nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate crystals is perlucin. Here we will focus on the molecular interactions of aforesaid proteins and mineral components. Perlucin will be used as a model to test if interaction of organic molecules with small ionic crystals leads to controlled growth of calcium carbonate crystals. Native and recombinant perlucin and its fragments will be used to investigate their interaction with calcite and aragonite by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Microscopic crystals will be grown in a new crystallisation device. The resulting crystal morphology will be investigated with different methods like AFM and transmission electron microscopy on several scales. Computational simulations will add a theoretical approach to the underlying molecular mechanisms. Experimental and theoretical work in molecular and computational biology as well as experimental biophysics is expected to be cross-fertilising. Consequently we anticipate comprehension of biomolecular structure formation which is the fundament for the synthesis of new functional materials.

珍珠质是一种不易碎、纤维增强、耐腐蚀的陶瓷，由有机体在环境条件下合成。在这种聚合物/矿物质复合材料中，甲壳素形成框架，不同的蛋白质控制矿物质的生长。参与碳酸钙晶体成核和生长的蛋白质之一是透明素。这里我们将重点关注上述蛋白质和矿物质成分的分子相互作用。 Perlucin 将用作模型来测试有机分子与小离子晶体的相互作用是否会导致碳酸钙晶体的受控生长。天然和重组 perlucin 及其片段将用于通过原子力显微镜 (AFM) 研究它们与方解石和文石的相互作用。微观晶体将在新的结晶装置中生长。由此产生的晶体形态将使用不同的方法（如 AFM 和透射电子显微镜）在多个尺度上进行研究。计算模拟将为潜在的分子机制添加理论方法。分子和计算生物学以及实验生物物理学的实验和理论工作预计将相互促进。因此，我们期望理解生物分子结构的形成，这是合成新功能材料的基础。