Characterization of the 36 skeletal organic matrix proteins (SOMPs).

<p>Computed parameters: molecular weight (Mw), isoelectric point (pI), most abundant amino acid (Major aa%), post-translational modifications (PTM) and other sequence features: signal peptide (SP), transmembrane domain (TM), glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI anchor), complexity regions (LCR), regions of biased composition, motifs and repeats.</p><p>*Properties calculated based on the primary sequence of the mature protein, <i>i.e.</i> without peptide signal.</p

Skeleton morphology and microstructure.

<p>(A) Skeletal fragments after treatment in NaOCl (5%, vol/vol) for 72 h prior to longitudinal and transversal cuts. Scanning electron microscopy images from the skeleton morphology: (B) Axial corallite, (C) Radial corallites, (D) Closer view into a radial corallite showing different septa. Polished and EDTA-etched sections from a transversal cut (E–G) and longitudinal cut (H–I). EMZ – early mineralization zone.</p

Quantification of neutral, aminated and acidic monosaccharides in the ASM (blue) and in the AIM (red) of <i>A. millepora</i>.

<p>Samples were hydrolyzed with 2°C (4 h). (A) Total Wt. % in the skeletal organic matrix (SOM, either ASM or AIM) are indicated in the graph (bars). (B) Concentrations (ng/µg) and relative molar percentages are shown in the table for both matrices.</p

Molecular composition of the skeletal organic matrix from A. millepora.

<p>(A) Analysis of electrophoresis on gel after AgNO3 staining.(B) PVDF membrane revealed by autoradiography with 45Ca, calmodulin (CaM)was used as positive control. (C) Infrared absorption spectra of ASM and AIM fractions with assignment of the main peaks. MM – Molecular marker, ASM – Acid soluble matrix, AIM – Acid insoluble matrix.</p

SEM images of CaCO₃ crystals grown <i>in vitro</i> with the addition of different concentrations of ASM: (A) 0 µg.ml⁻¹, (B) 0.1 µg.ml⁻¹, (C) 1 µg.ml⁻¹, (E) 5 µg.ml⁻¹, (E) 10 µg.ml⁻¹ and (F) 20 µg.ml⁻¹.

<p>(G) Corresponding FTIR(ATR) absorbance spectra on the whole precipitated for the following ASM concentrations: 0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 20 µg.ml⁻¹.</p