Surface Aggregation of Urinary Proteins and Aspartic Acid-Rich Peptides on the Faces of Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Investigated by In Situ Force Microscopy

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: The growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate in the presence of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), osteopontin, and the 27-residue synthetic peptides (DDDS)(6)DDD and (DDDG)(6)DDD (D = aspartic acid, S = serine, and G = glycine) was investigated via in situ atomic force microscopy. The results show that these four growth modulators create extensive deposits on the crystal faces. Depending on the modulator and crystal face, these deposits can occur as discrete aggregates, filamentary structures, or uniform coatings. These proteinaceous films can lead to either the inhibition of or an increase in the step speeds (with respect to the impurity-free system), depending on a range of factors that include peptide or protein concentration, supersaturation, and ionic strength. While THP and the linear peptides act, respectively, to exclusively increase and inhibit growth on the (101) face, both exhibit dual functionality on the (010) face, inhibiting growth at low supersaturation or high modulator concentration and accelerating growth at high supersaturation or low modulator concentration. Based on analyses of growth morphologies and dependencies of step speeds on supersaturation and protein or peptide concentration, we propose a picture of growth modulation that accounts for the observations in terms of the strength of binding to the surfaces and steps and the interplay of electrostatic and solvent-induced forces at the crystal surface.

Source: Calcified Tissue International

DOI: 10.1007/s00223-009-9223-0

Authors: Matthew L. Weaver, S. Roger Qiu, John R. Hoyer, William H. Casey, George H. Nancollas, James J. De Yoreo

Institutions: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Davis, University of Delaware, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Foundry

Language: English

Topic: Kidney Stones and Urolithiasis Treatments

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, Office of Science, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

OpenAlex ID: W2148890890