The Organic Matrix Associated With Calcium Oxalate Formation In Vitis Labrusca

Webb MCB-9418608 植物体内生物矿化的主要形式是在植物液泡中形成晶体。 这些晶体可能在矿物螯合、植物防御和植物组织的结构保护中具有功能。在精确的发育和环境控制下，在特定的细胞类型（异细胞）中形成柱状晶体。该建议的主要目的是确定有机基质的蛋白质组分，细胞基质可以通过提供矿物质沉积的模板、通过成核晶体生长、通过形成其中发生矿化的腔室或通过影响其中晶体形成的细胞环境来起作用。 在葡萄叶中，一层液泡膜包裹着每一个草酸钙晶体。膜是有机基质的一部分。这项工作将确定和表征这种膜上的蛋白质和编码这些蛋白质的基因。这些蛋白质在晶体异细胞和周围细胞中的细胞分布和丰度将用电子和光学显微镜测定。 为了补充对这些膜成分的性质的研究，将遵循晶体形成的发展背景。 以这种方式，膜对有机基质的贡献的关键组分可以根据晶体的起始和生长来确定。 %生物矿化作用是由生物控制的矿床形成过程，对许多生物的生存至关重要。 动物骨骼、牙齿和贝壳的形成是生物矿化的重要形式，其功能已被公认。 关于生物有机体中晶体生长所需的有机基质的信息正被应用于材料科学，其中在生物矿化系统中鉴定的有机大分子可用于操纵薄膜和其他晶体材料的构造。 研究可能会发现新的钙结合蛋白，晶体成核物质，或其他分子，促进或抑制晶体生长，具有潜在的广泛应用于医学，生态学，工程和陶瓷。 %%%

Webb MCB-9418608 The major form of biomineralization in plants is crystal formation in the plant vacuole. These crystals may have a function in mineral sequestration, plant defense, and structural protection of plant tissues. Vacuolar crystals form in specific cell types, idioblasts, under precise developmental and environmental control. The major thrust of this proposal is to determine the protein components of the organic matrix, the cellular matrix which may function by providing a template for mineral deposition, by nucleating crystal growth, by forming the chamber in which mineralization occurs, or by influencing the cellular environment in which the crystals form. In grape leaves, a vacuolar membrane encloses each individual calcium oxalate crystal. The membrane is part of the organic matrix. This work will identify and characterize the proteins on this membrane and the genes which encode these proteins. The cellular disposition and abundance of these proteins in crystal idioblasts and surrounding cells will be determined with electron and light microscopy. To complement studies on the nature of these membrane components, the developmental context of crystal formation will be followed. In this way, the key components of the membrane contribution to the organic matrix can be identified in relation the initiation and growth of crystals. %%% Biomineralization, the biologically controlled formation of mineral deposits, is crucial to the survival of many organisms. The formation of bones, teeth, and shells in animals are important forms of biomineralization whose functions are well-recognized. Information about the organic matrix provided for crystal growth in biological organisms is being applied to materials science, where organic macromolecules identified in biomineralization systems can be used to manipulate the construction of thin films and other crystalline materials. Research may identify novel calcium-binding proteins, crystal nucleating s ubstances, or other molecules that promote or inhibit crystal growth, with potentially wide application to medicine, ecology, engineering, and ceramics. %%%