Milk caseins stabilize calcium and phosphate ions and make them available to the neonate. Tryptic digestion of the caseins yields phosphopeptides from their polar N-terminal regions that contain clusters of phosphorylated seryl residues. These phosphoseryl clusters have been hypothesized to be responsible for the interaction between the caseins and calcium phosphate that lead to the formation o...

This study aimed to determine physiologically relevant kinetic and allosteric effects of P(i), AMP, ADP, and caffeine on isolated skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase a (Phos a). In the absence of effectors, Phos a had Vmax = 221 +/- 2 U/mg and Km = 5.6 +/- 0.3 mM P(i) at 30 degrees C. AMP and ADP each increased Phos a Vmax and decreased Km in a dose-dependent manner. AMP was more effective t...

This work investigates the early stages of precipitation of calcium sulfate from aqueous solution at room temperature and shows for the first time that amorphous calcium sulfate (ACS) and calcium sulfate hemihydrate are sequentially precipitated prior to calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum).

The present in vitro study created nanometer crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) and amorphous calcium phosphate for novel orthopedic applications. Specifically, nano-crystalline HA and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles were synthesized by a wet chemical process followed by hydrothermal treatment for 2 hours at 200 degrees C and 70 degrees C, respectively. Resulting particles were then pres...

We introduce two methods for the visualization of phosphorylated proteins using alkoxide-bridged dinuclear metal (i.e. Zn(2+) or Mn(2+)) complexes as novel phosphate-binding tag (Phos-tag) molecules. Both Zn(2+)- and Mn(2+)-Phos-tag molecules preferentially capture phosphomonoester dianions bound to Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues. One method is based on an ECL system using biotin-pendant Zn(2+)-Pho...

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(16)H(19)N(2) (+)·I(3) (-), contains a (E)-2-[4-(dimethyl-amino)-styr-yl)-1-methyl-pyrid-in-ium cation and half each of two triiodide anions. The complete triiodide anions are each generated by inversion symmetry. The planar cation has all of its eighteen non-H atoms situated on a mirror plane. In the crystal, the cations are stacked along the b axis ...

Molluscan nacre is a fascinating biomineral consisting of a highly organized calcium carbonate composite that provides unique fracture toughness and an iridescent color. Organisms elaborately control biomineralization using organic macromolecules. We propose the involvement of the matrix protein Pif80 from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata in the development of the inorganic phase during nacre b...

Hydroxyapatite (HA), a material proven to be biocompatible within the human body, has been produced to a high level of purity. This material has been applied as a coating on Ti-6Al-4V alloy by using the air plasma spraying technique. The coat was characterizted with SEM, XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy methods to consist of a mixture of calcium phosphates including HA mainly and traces of tric...

Dissolution of gallstones consisting of cholesterol, calcium carbonate, or calcium phosphate in different solvents left an amorphous organic gel-like substance (the matrix). Matrix from cholesterol stones could be colourless but was usually orange, yellow, or brown while that from calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate stones was almost invariably coloured black or dark brown. These pigments w...