On how proteins interact with crystals and their effect on crystal formation

Abstract

Formation of crystalline materials in biological environments is largely dominated by macromolecules whose complementarity to the surface structure is the basis for molecular pattern recognition. This complementarity may in turn result in regulation of crystal growth and morphology, or in induction of crystal nucleation. The conceptual framework for these effects is illustrated here using examples from biomineralization as well as by the immune responses during pathological crystallizations to crystalline antigens. Antibodies are shown to be a precious tool for discerning the fine details of the interactions between biological macromolecules and ordered molecular arrays, such as are present on the surfaces of crystals, monolayers and possibly cell membranes.