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Structures of mollusc shell framework proteins

Nature volume 387, pages 563–564 (1997)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 10 July 1997

Abstract

Mollusc shells consist of the nacreous mother-of-pearl layer and the prismatic layer. Both layers are microlaminate composites of CaCO3 crystals (aragonite in the nacre and calcite in the prismatic layer) and biopolymers. The main biopolymers are structural proteins, insoluble in water and methanoic acid, which determine the framework of each shell layer1,4 and bind soluble polyanionic proteins2,4 which determine the type of CaCO3 crystal that grows5,6. Here we report the sequences and structures of the framework proteins for the nacreous and prismatic layers of the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata.

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Figure 1: Deduced amino-acid sequence (single-letter code) of pMSI1 (DDBL/EMBL/Genbank accession number D86074).
Figure 2: In situ hybridization of a, MSI60 and b, MSI31 mRNA in the mantle of Pfucata.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. *Research Unit, Mikimoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ise, Mie, 516, Japan

    Shu Sudo

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Mie University Faculty of Medicine, Mie, 514, Tsu, Japan

    Takahiko Fujikawa, Takeshi Nagakura, Takeshi Ohkubo, Kesami Sakaguchi, Minoru Tanaka & Kunio Nakashima

  3. Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Mie University Faculty of Bioresources, Mie, 514, Tsu, Japan

    Takao Takahashi

Authors
  1. Shu Sudo
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  2. Takahiko Fujikawa
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  3. Takeshi Nagakura
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  4. Takeshi Ohkubo
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  5. Kesami Sakaguchi
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  6. Minoru Tanaka
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  7. Kunio Nakashima
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  8. Takao Takahashi
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Sudo, S., Fujikawa, T., Nagakura, T. et al. Structures of mollusc shell framework proteins. Nature 387, 563–564 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/42391

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