The correlation between organic matrices and biominerals (myostracal prism and folia) of the adult oyster shell, Crassostrea gigas

The organic membrane at the interface between the myostracum (aragonite) and folia (calcite) was obtained and identified as a chitin-like macromolecule after chemical treatment. It was confirmed that the organic membrane was faced to the crystal (0 0 1) plane of the myostracum and folia. The secondary structures in soluble protein of the myostracum and the folia of oyster shell were identified as a great quantity of β-structure. The acidic amino acids, Asp and Glu, to play a role as templates on shell formation were confirmed in the myostracum and the folia.