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Calcification Mechanisms: Roles for Cells and Mineral
Author(s) -
Becker Gerald L.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1977.tb01653.x
Subject(s) - calcification , calcium , phosphate , mineral , chemistry , amorphous calcium phosphate , biomineralization , vesicle , biophysics , biochemistry , mineralized tissues , mineralization (soil science) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , pathology , medicine , membrane , organic chemistry , paleontology , dentin , nitrogen
Recent findings suggest that cellular activity and mineral chemistry have important roles in initiating mineral formation in calcifying tissues. Under biological conditions, hydroxyapatite (HA), the predominant and most stable form of insoluble calcium phosphate, forms only through a more soluble, noncrystalline precursor, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). The conversion of ACP to HA can be extensively inhibited by many biologically ubiquitous small ions at their typical tissue concentrations. The earliest mineral deposits in the matrix of several calcifying tissues are associated with tiny membranous vesicles. Intramitochondrial calcium phosphate granules are also seen within intact cells of certain calcifying tissues. Current hypotheses for initial mineral deposition, based on these findings, are reviewed.