Abstract
The influence of egg white lysozyme on the size, shape, crystallog., and chem. compn. of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles obtained from aq. CaCl2-dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-NaOH solns. was studied. At the onset of pptn., the presence of lysozyme led to much smaller particles (50-400 nm spherical amorphous lysozyme-calcium carbonate particles (Ly-ACC)) than those obtained from ...
Abstract
The influence of egg white lysozyme on the size, shape, crystallog., and chem. compn. of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles obtained from aq. CaCl2-dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-NaOH solns. was studied. At the onset of pptn., the presence of lysozyme led to much smaller particles (50-400 nm spherical amorphous lysozyme-calcium carbonate particles (Ly-ACC)) than those obtained from lysozyme-free soln. The nanospheres were in some cases aggregated and in addn. embedded in a faint network. Their size and interconnection depended on the concn. of egg white lysozyme. When the Ly-ACC particles were left in contact with the mother liquor (CaCl2/DMC/NaOH/lysozyme soln.) for 24 h, they transformed directly and exclusively into cryst. calcite. The obsd. results may be of relevance for a better understanding of the role of lysozyme in the process of eggshell mineralization.
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