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Biomaterials

Metabolites empowering minerals

Amorphous mineral phases play important roles in the skeletons of many organisms, but the molecular basis for species-specific control is still under debate. The demonstration that energy-rich metabolites such as phosphoenolpyruvate stabilize amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) in crayfish inspires speculation about calcium minerals in emerging metabolisms.

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Figure 1: Hypothetical rudimentary metabolism involving Pi, PEP and 3PG and ACC.

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Correspondence to Ingrid M Weiss.

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Weiss, I. Metabolites empowering minerals. Nat Chem Biol 7, 192–193 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.550

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