Soluble matrix of hen's eggshell extracts changes in vitro the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation and crystal morphology

1. Extra and intramineral eggshell matrix proteins were solubilised before and after demineralisation by sequential extractions using guanidine hydrochloride and EDTA. 2. The intramineral electrophoretic profile of SDS-PAGE showed the presence of 80, 66, 43, 36 and 15 kDa bands with a predominance of a 17 kDa band. In the extramineral part, the major protein was the 15 kDa band. 3. The introduction of intramineral extract to a metastable solution of calcium carbonate delayed the rate of crystal growth. The delay in the rate of precipitation was elicited by a single fraction (MW 50-80 kDa), isolated by gel filtration chromatography, of eggshell extracts. Extramineral extracts had no effect. 4. Addition in vitro of intramineral eggshell extracts modified the morphology of calcite; the crystals aggregated and showed irregular surfaces. 5. These observations suggest that constituents of the eggshell matrix are involved in the control of calcite growth and crytallographic structure of the hen's eggshell.