THE HYDROXYAPATITE BINDING DOMAINS OF STATHERIN - INFLUENCE OF SIZE AND CHARGE

Abstract

The influence on hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystal growth of N-terminal segments of statherin having different charged residues was studied using the constant composition (CC) method. Crystallization reactions were performed in solutions supersaturated with respect to HAP having total concentrations of calcium and phosphate of 4.00 × 10-4 and 2.40 × 10-4 mol liter-1, respectively. It was found that the HAP crystallization inhibition by a five residue N-terminal fragment of statherin was similar to native statherin at surface concentrations up to 12 × 10-8 mol m-2, while at higher concentrations the shorter fragments were more efficient crystal growth inhibitors. © 1993 by Academic Press, Inc.