Voinescu, Alina ETouraud, DidierLecker, AloisPfitzner, ArnoKunz, WernerNinham, Barry2015-12-080743-7463http://hdl.handle.net/1885/36545The influence of egg white lysozyme on the size, shape, crystallography, and chemical composition of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles obtained from aqueous CaCl 2-dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-NaOH solutions was studied. At the onset of precipitation, the presence of lysozyme led to much smaller particles (50-400 nm spherical amorphous lysozyme-calcium carbonate particles (Ly-ACC)) than those obtained from lysozyme-free solution. The nanospheres were in some cases aggregated and in addition embedded in a faint network. Their size and interconnection depended on the concentration of egg white lysozyme. When the Ly-ACC particles were left in contact with the mother liquor (CaCl 2/DMC/NaOH/ly sozyme solution) for 24 h, they transformed directly and exclusively into crystalline calcite. The observed results may be of relevance for a better understanding of the role of lysozyme in the process of eggshell mineralization.Keywords: Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC); Crystalline calcite; Egg white lysozyme; Crystallography; Enzymes; Living systems studies; Nanospheres; Calcium compounds; calcium carbonate; calcium chloride; egg white; formic acid derivative; lysozyme; methyl carbonat200710.1021/la701892v2015-12-08