Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 8: Posters: Biopolymers and Biomaterials (with CPP)
BP 8.3: Poster
Monday, March 26, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
The nacre protein perlucin - homology model and properties — •Malte Launspach1, Martin Zacharias2, and Monika Fritz1 — 1Institute of Biophysics, University of Bremen — 2Biomolecular Dynamics (T38), Technical University Munich
The natural composite nacre is known for its iridescence as well as high fracture toughness. Both properties emerge from a well defined microstructure of nacre. Aragonite - a calcium carbonate polymorph - polygonal platelets with a diameter in the micrometer range and a height of about 500 nanometer are embedded in an organic layer comprised of proteins and chitin. One of these proteins of the organic layer is perlucin. This protein seems to be the most abundant one in nacre and it influences the growth of calcite as it was shown by AFM measurements. Currently we try to characterise this protein and its function in nacre formation.
Here we present a model of the C-type lectin perlucin derived from comparative modelling and tested with molecular dynamics simulations. Further we use common gelfiltration techniques and a computer docking program to investigate the perlucin-perlucin interaction. To probe the mineral interaction capabilities of perlucin we perform AFM imaging of aragonite and calcite surfaces in supersaturated calcium carbonate solutions in presence of perlucin.