Biomineral repair of Abalone shell apertures

Cusack, M. , Guo, D., Chung, P. and Kamenos, N.A. (2013) Biomineral repair of Abalone shell apertures. Journal of Structural Biology, 183(2), pp. 165-171. (doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2013.05.010)

Abstract

The shell of the gastropod mollusc, abalone, is comprised of nacre with an outer prismatic layer that is composed of either calcite or aragonite or both, depending on the species. A striking characteristic of the abalone shell is the row of apertures along the dorsal margin. As the organism and shell grow, new apertures are formed and the preceding ones are filled in. Detailed investigations, using electron backscatter diffraction, of the infill in three species of abalone: Haliotis asinina, Haliotis gigantea and Haliotis rufescens reveals that, like the shell, the infill is composed mainly of nacre with an outer prismatic layer. The infill prismatic layer has identical mineralogy as the original shell prismatic layer. In H. asinina and H. gigantea, the prismatic layer of the shell and infill are made of aragonite while in H. rufescens both are composed of calcite. Abalone builds the infill material with the same high level of biological control, replicating the structure, mineralogy and crystallographic orientation as for the shell. The infill of abalone apertures presents us with insight into what is, effectively, shell repair.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kamenos, Professor Nick and Cusack, Professor Maggie and Chung, Mr Peter
• Authors: Cusack, M., Guo, D., Chung, P., and Kamenos, N.A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Structural Biology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1047-8477
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Journal of Structural Biology 183(2):165-171
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher