The protein-mineral interface in bone: a solid-state NMR study

骨骼是我们和其他动物身体中非常重要的材料。已知它由蛋白质（主要是胶原蛋白）基质组成，其中包埋有磷酸钙的无机晶体。目前，我们对蛋白质基质和磷酸钙晶体是如何粘在一起的还知之甚少，但如果它们没有以某种方式粘在一起，磷酸钙晶体就会全部沉到骨头的底部，骨头就会变得松软，对支撑我们的身体几乎没有用处。因此，蛋白质和磷酸钙之间的界面对于理解骨骼作为一种材料是如何工作的，它是如何坚韧的，足够坚硬以支持我们的身体和运动，但令人惊讶的是，它对骨折有抵抗力。我们将使用一种称为固态NMR的测量方法来（a）确定蛋白质基质的哪一部分与磷酸钙相互作用，以及（B）基质和晶体之间的距离。我们还将研究需要多大的力量来打破蛋白质和磷酸钙之间的联系，并了解骨关节炎和骨质疏松症等疾病的影响。希望这将为如何治疗这些疾病提供线索，并在建立数学模型以描述骨骼作为材料的功能时为我们提供重要信息。

Bone is a very important material in our bodies and those of other animals. It is known to consist of a matrix of protein (primarily, collagen) in which are embedded inorganic crystals of calcium phosphate. There is, at present, very little known about how the protein matrix and calcium phosphate crystals stick together, yet if they did not stick together in some way, the calcium phosphate crystals would all sink to the bottom of the bone and the bone would be floppy, and of very little use in supporting our bodies. The interface between the protein and calcium phosphate is thus of key importance in understanding how bone works as a material, how it is tough, and rigid enough to support our bodies and their movement, yet surprisingly resistant to fracture. We will use a measurement method called solid-state NMR to (a) identify which part of the protein matrix interacts with the calcium phosphate and (b) how far apart the matrix and crystals are. We will also look at how much force is required to break the link between the protein and calcium phosphate and see what effect diseases, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis have. The hope is that this will give clues as to how to treat these diseases as well as give us important information when building mathematical models to describe the functioning of bone as a material.