Many minerals, several phyla, and a few considerations

Abstract

Cells of biomineralizing systems have the capacity to create within fluid microenvironments the conditions in which ions attain concentrations sufficient for mineral deposition in association with proteins. These microenvironments can also provide specific conditions for the deposition of many kinds of minerals.Four areas of research are discussed: (1) the effects of neurosecretory substances on ion movement and mineral deposition of tissues in vitro; (2) mineralization by single cells and the formation of species-specific calcined structures; (3) the permeability and kinetics of ion movement across membranes of vacuoles; and (4) analyses of the skeletal proteins of various taxonomic groups in the study of evolutionary continuity and the role of proteins in processes of mineralization. For each of the four areas, experimental approaches, which have been employed or which appear feasible, are suggested.Antigen-antibody reactions to indicate protein similarities in different taxa and the use of monoclonal antibodies as probes to interfere with mineralization processes may prove useful new methods in biomineralization research. © 1984 by the American Society of Zoologists.