Abstract
The organic matrix of the major lateral teeth of the chitonAcanthopleura hirtosa was found to consist of approx 10% by weight of protein. Histochemical analysis indicated that the majority of the protein was located in the calcified (anterior) region of the tooth, while the iron-mineralized or posterior region contained relatively small amounts of protein. In comparison, whole radula tissue contained significantly greater amounts of protein than the major lateral teeth alone. This extra protein is required to harden the non-mineralized areas of the radula. High-performance liquid chromatography and biochemical analyses indicated that the protein is rich in aspartic and glutamic acids, while phosphoserine was also detected in appreciable quantities. In addition, the protein component was closely associated with chitin fibres which comprise the remainder of the organic matrix. It is suggested that the calcified region of the tooth exhibits greater organic matrix-mediated control during the biomineralization process than the ironmineralized posterior region.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Addadi, L., Weiner, S. (1985). Interactions between acidic proteins and crystals: stereochemical requirements in biomineralization. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82: 4110–4114
Bancroft, J. D., Stevens, A. (1977). Theory and practice of histological techniques. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Barnett, R. J., Seligman, A. M. (1954). Histochemical demonstration of sulfhydryl and disulphide groups of protein. J. natn. Cancer Inst. 14: 769–803
Belcourt, A. B., Fincham, A. G., Termine, J. D. (1982). Acid-soluble bovine fetal enamelins. J. dent. Res. 61: 1031–1032
Brimacombe, J. S., Webber, J. M. (1964). Mucopolysaccharides: chemical structure, distribution and isolation. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Evans, L. A., Macey, D. J., Webb, J. (1990). Characterization and structural organization of the organic matrix of the radula teeth of the chitonAcanthopleura hirtosa. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 329: 87–96
Fearnhead, R. W., Suga, S. (1984). Tooth enamel. IV. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Glenner, G. G., Lillie, R. D. (1959). Observations on the diazotization-coupling reaction for the histochemical demonstration of tyrosine: metal chelation and formazan variants. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 7: 416–422
Hess, H. H., Lees, M. B., Derr, J. E. (1978). A linear Lowry-Folin assay for both water-soluble and sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized proteins. Analyt. Biochem. 85: 295–300
Jeuniaux, Ch. (1971). Chitinous structures. In: Florkin, M., Stotz, E. H. (eds.) Comprehensive biochemistry. Vol. 26C. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 595–632
Kim, K.-S., Macey, D. J., Webb, J., Mann, S. (1989). Iron mineralization in the radula teeth of the chitonAcanthopleura hirtosa. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 237: 335–346
Kim, K.-S., Webb, J., Macey, D. J., Cohen, D. D. (1986). Compositional changes during biomineralization of the radula of the chitonClavarizona hirtosa. J. inorg. Biochem. 28: 337–345
Kirkpatrick, D. S., Bishop, S. H. (1971). Simplified wet ash procedure for total phosphorus analysis of organophosphonates in biological samples. Analyt. Chem. 43: 1707–1709
Kirschvink, J. L., Lowenstam, H. A. (1979). Mineralization and magnetization of chiton teeth: paleomagnetic, sedimentologic, and biological implications of organic magnetite. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 44: 193–204
LeGeros, R. Z., Pan, C.-M., Suga, S. Watabe, N. (1985). Crystallochemical properties of apatite in atremate brachiopod shells. Calcif. Tissue int. 37: 98–100
Lowenstam, H. A. (1967). Lepidocrocite, an apatite mineral, and magnetite in teeth of chitons (Polyplacophora). Science, Wash. 156: 1373–1375
Lowenstam, H. A., Weiner, S. (1985). Transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate to crystalline dahllite in the radula teeth of chitons. Science, Wash. 227: 51–53
Lowenstam, H. A., Weiner, S. (1989). On biomineralization. Oxford University Press, New York
McGee-Russell, S. M. (1958). Histochemical methods for calcium. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 6: 22–42
Muzzarelli, R. A. A. (1973). Natural chelating polymers: alginic acid, chitin and chitosan. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Pearse, A. G. E. (1975). Histochemistry, theoretical and applied. Vol. 1. Churchill-Livingstone, London
Poulicek, M., Voss-Foucart, M. F., Jeuniaux, Ch. (1986). Chitinoproteic complexes and mineralization in mollusk skeletal structures. In: Muzzarelli, R., Jeuniaux, Ch., Gooday, G. W. (eds.) Chitin in nature and technology. Plenum Press, New York, p. 7–12
Runham, N. W. (1963). The histochemistry of the radulas ofAcanthochitona communis, Lymnaea stagnalis, Helix pomatia, Scaphander lignarius andArchidoris pseudoargus. Anns Histochim. 8: 433–442
Steneck, R. S., Watling, L. (1982). Feeding capabilities and limitation of herbivorous molluscs: a functional group approach. Mar. Biol. 68: 299–319
Suga, S. (1984). The role of fluoride and iron in mineralization of fish enameloid. In: Fearnhead, R. W., Suga, S. (eds.) Tooth enamel. IV. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 472–477
Veis, A. (1989). Biochemical studies of vertebrate tooth mineralization. In: Mann, S., Webb, J., Williams, R. J. P. (eds.) Biomineralization: chemical and biochemical perspectives. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, p. 189–222
Veis, D. J., Albinger, T. M., Clohisy, J., Rahima, M., Sabsay, B., Veis, A. (1986). Matrix proteins of the teeth of the sea urchinLytechinus variegatus. J. exp. Zool. 240: 35–46
Webb, J., Macey, D. J., Mann, S. (1989). Biomineralization of iron in molluscan teeth. In: Mann, S., Webb, J., Williams, R. J. P. (eds.) Biomineralization: chemical and biochemical perspectives. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, p. 345–387
Webb, J., St. Pierre, T. G., Dickson, D. P. E., Mann, S., Williams, R. J. P., Perry, C. C., Grime, G., Watt, F., Runham, N. W. (1986). Mössbauer spectroscopic and scanning proton microprobe studies of iron biominerals. In: Xavier, A. V. (ed.) Frontiers in bioinorganic chemistry. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, p. 441–452
Weiner, S., Traub, W. (1984). Macromolecules in mollusc shells and their functions in biomineralization. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 304: 425–434
Weiner, S., Traub, W., Lowenstam, H. A. (1983). Organic matrix in calcified exoskeletons. In: Westbroek, P., de Jong, E. W. (eds.) Biomineralization and biological metal accumulation. D. Reidel, Dordrecht, p. 205–224
Wheeler, A. P., Rusenko, K. W., Sikes, C. S. (1988). Organic matrix from carbonate biomineral as a regulator of mineralization. In: Sikes, C. S., Wheeler, A. P. (eds.) Chemical aspects of regulation of mineralization. University of South Alabama Publication Services, Mobile, Alabama, p. 9–13
Wigglesworth, V. B. (1972). The principles of insect physiology. 7th ed. Chapman & Hall, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Evans, L.A., Macey, D.J. & Webb, J. Distribution and composition of matrix protein in the radula teeth of the chitonAcanthopleura hirtosa . Mar. Biol. 109, 281–286 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01319396
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01319396