In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of the teeth of the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa

Lee, A.P., Webb, J., Macey, D.J., Van Bronswijk, W., Savarese, A.R. and De Witt, G.C. (1998) In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of the teeth of the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 3 (6). pp. 614-619.

Abstract

In situ Raman spectroscopy, in combination with energy dispersive spectroscopy, has been used for the first time to determine the identities and locations, at the micron level, of mineral phases present in single chiton teeth that have been extensively mineralized. At the later stages of development the major lateral teeth of the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa show characteristic spectroscopic evidence for the presence of lepidocrocite (γ- FeOOH), magnetite (Fe3O4), and an apatitic calcium phosphate, Goethite (α- FeOOH) and ferrihydrite (5Fe2O3·9H2O), which have been detected previously in teeth at the early stages of mineralization, were not detected in this mature tooth. The spatial distribution of these phases was determined, providing evidence for the presence of a discrete layer of lepidocrocite between the magnetite and apatite regions, illustrating the complexity of the biomineralization process. The technique of laser Raman microscopy is shown to be ideal for the examination of small biomineralized structures in situ, such as chiton teeth.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Copyright:	(c) Springer Verlag
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/1785

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