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Aragonite Formation in the Chiton (Mollusca) Girdle
Author(s) -
Treves Keren,
Traub Wolfie,
Weiner Steve,
Addadi Lia
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
helvetica chimica acta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.74
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1522-2675
pISSN - 0018-019X
DOI - 10.1002/hlca.200390096
Subject(s) - aragonite , polyplacophora , sponge spicule , spicule , chemistry , ultrastructure , biomineralization , mineralized tissues , mollusca , matrix (chemical analysis) , mineral , mineralogy , calcite , crystallography , anatomy , zoology , paleontology , biology , materials science , composite material , organic chemistry , dentin , chromatography
In the chitons (Polyplacophora, Mollusca), the body is not entirely protected by the shell. Mineralized spicules or scales often, but not always, decorate the exposed part of the girdle. Here, we report a study on the composition and ultrastructural organization of these mineralized skeletal parts in four different chiton species. In all specimens, the mineral component (97–98 wt‐%) is aragonite, and the organic matrix (2–3 wt‐%) consists of highly glycosylated proteins. X‐Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that the organic matrix fibers are aligned, morphologically and crystallographically, with the prismatic aragonite crystals. Matrix and mineral are thus clearly related. The matrix–mineral composite bundles are, however, assembled in the various skeletal parts examined with widely different degrees of alignment and order. In the same organism, the crystals are aligned within a range of ±15° in one type of spicule, while they are randomly oriented in another type. The wide heterogeneity in shape, density, and ultrastructure suggests that the girdle mineralized tissues do not fulfill a fundamental role necessary for the survival of the organism. This, together with the lack of chitin in the organic matrix, supports the hypothesis that they evolved separately from the other chiton mineralized tissues, namely the shell plates and teeth.