Octacalcium phosphate - a metastable mineral phase controls the evolution of scaffold forming proteins

摘要: The molecular structure of collagen type 1 can be understood as the result evolutionary selection in process formation calcium phosphate based biocomposites acting load bearing components living organisms. fulfills principle ‘survival fittest’ a particular biological environment. Disk-like post-nucleation complexes Ca2(HPO4)32− organized ribbon-like assemblies metastable octacalcium (OCP) phase, and Ca3 triangles stable HAP phase had formed crystallographic motifs this process. rotational well translational symmetry major tropocollagen (TC) helix agree nearly perfectly with corresponding symmetries OCP structure. sequence (Gly–X–Y) three α chains constituting TC molecule enables an optimized structural fit for nucleation triangles, directed growth nanostructured OCP, subsequent hydroxyapatite (HAP) macrofibrils by topotaxial transition. known connection between genetic defects Osteogenesis imperfecta should motivate search similar dependences other bone diseases on disturbed scale.