Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4
Biomineralization: Apatite Protein Interaction
Toru Tsuji, Mayumi Iijima, and Kazuo Onuma
Abstract
The evolution of recombinant DNA techniques and protein engineering
has accelerated the growth in biomineralization studies over the last decade. In this
chapter, we discuss recently published work focusing on the structure and function
of proteins that are involved in HAP crystal formation in the body. The proteins
we focus on in this review are amelogenin and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1). The
roles of other proteins, for example, SIBLING family members, which are supposed
to play significant roles in HAP crystal formation, are also described. These proteins
would be involved in different steps of HAP crystal formation, that is, nucleation,
growth, and transformation. We also summarize the challenges of regulating crystal
growth and elucidating the mechanisms of crystal formation using artificial proteins,
which are not attained by using only naturally occurring proteins.
Keywords
biomineralization • amorphous calcium phosphate • transformation •
hydroxyapatite • biomineralization proteins
T. Tsuji (
)
Advanced Research Centers, Keio University, 3-14-1, Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku,
Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan
e-mail:
toruts2002@yahoo.co.jp
M. Iijima
Asahi University School of Dentistry, Oral Functional Science and Rehabilitation,
Dental Materials Science, 1851-1 Hozumi, Mizuho, Gifu, 501-0296, Japan
e-mail:
iijima@dent.asahi-u.ac.jp
K. Onuma
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, Central 6,
1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan
e-mail:
k.onuma@aist.go.jp
