Molecular Determinants of Calcitic Biomineralization.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Flaws in chicken eggshell fabrication are a human health and food safety issue; the nutritious table egg is an important source of protein, minerals and vitamins for 100’s of millions of individuals living in poverty worldwide. In Canada it is estimated that about 10,000 annual cases of salmonella poisoning are due to contamination of cracked eggshells that find their way into the food chain. In this sense, the reproducible nature of calcitic biomineralization of the eggshell is of critical concern to human society. My research program during the past 20 years has investigated the integrated defense strategies that function at this biomineralized barrier. My studies have revealed how protein components of the eggshell matrix modulate calcium carbonate crystal nucleation and growth in order to understand regulation of eggshell mechanical properties. Moreover, we have demonstrated the dual function of antimicrobial eggshell matrix proteins (EMPs) that regulate mineralization of the shell barrier which maintains the pathogen-free status of the egg.