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Related Concept Videos

Roles of Electrolytes: Calcium and Phosphate01:27

Roles of Electrolytes: Calcium and Phosphate

Calcium and phosphate are essential electrolytes in the human body, with calcium being the most abundant mineral. Around 99% of the body's calcium is stored in the skeleton and teeth, forming a crystal lattice of mineral salts in combination with phosphates. Calcium plays crucial roles in various bodily functions such as blood clotting, neurotransmitter release, muscle tone maintenance, and nervous and muscle tissue excitability.
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Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

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Rapid Mix Preparation of Bioinspired Nanoscale Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications
05:41

Rapid Mix Preparation of Bioinspired Nanoscale Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications

Published on: February 23, 2017

Polyphosphates affect biological apatite nucleation.

Sidney Omelon1, Marc Grynpas

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. somelon@uottawa.ca

Cells, Tissues, Organs
|June 1, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bone mineral nucleation, unlike resorption, remains poorly understood. Polyphosphate formation in bone can decrease free ions and saturation, enabling apatite nucleation by increasing total ion concentrations.

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Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
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Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Published on: June 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biomineralization
  • Crystallization Theory
  • Bone Physiology

Background:

  • Bone resorption is understood, but apatite nucleation mechanisms are unclear.
  • Degree of saturation (Ω) governs mineral formation (Ω > 1) or dissolution (Ω < 1).
  • Ω depends on ion activity product (IAP) and solubility product (Ksp), influenced by free ion concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms of biological apatite nucleation.
  • To investigate the role of polyphosphate (polyP) in regulating ion concentrations and saturation during bone mineralization.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ion speciation and complexation in biological systems.
  • In vitro experiments to assess the impact of calcium-polyphosphate (Ca-polyP) formation on ion concentrations and Ω.
  • Evaluation of polyP polymerization and depolymerization effects on apatite nucleation.

Main Results:

  • Acidic conditions in bone resorption reduce free phosphate ([PO₄³⁻]) and Ω, favoring dissolution.
  • Polyphosphate formation reduces free [Ca²⁺] and free [PO₄³⁻] by forming neutral Ca-polyP complexes.
  • Ca-polyP formation maintains constant total [Ca²⁺] and [P] while decreasing Ω, facilitating apatite nucleation upon depolymerization.

Conclusions:

  • Polyphosphate plays a critical role in controlling free ion concentrations and saturation state during apatite nucleation.
  • Polyphosphate polymerization and depolymerization dynamically regulate the conditions necessary for bone mineral formation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to addressing disorders of bone mineralization.