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Dynamic and time-resolved static light scattering measurements are used to investigate the intermolecular interaction and association dynamics of the Ynd1p protein. Fractal dimension analysis using scattering intensity data suggested that the inner structure of the aggregates changed from loose to rigid with time and single crystals of Ynd1p grew in the mutant-type protein solution, while polycrystals of Ynd1p grew in the wild-type protein solution.

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to study laminin-1 (LN-1) in aqueous solutions. Magnesium leads to formation of bonding or adsorption on LN-1 molecules.

The assembly kinetics of a membrane protein, the bc1 complex, is investigated using a newly developed continuous-angle laser light scattering technique. The assembly process of the bc1 complex increases both the size of the aggregates and the compactness of the internal structure. The assembly rate is controlled by the presence of zinc as well as by the concentration of PEG, the crystallizing reagent.

The edge free energy, (gamma), on the (0001) face of a hydroxyapatite crystal in the presence of magnesium and zinc as impurities was estimated for determining the effect of impurity on the two-dimensional (2D) nucleation rate J. Results indicated that the impurities inhibited the growth rate of the (0001) face by adsorbing at kink sites of 2D island, and up to a certain concentration, magnesium and zinc did not affect the energy barrier for 2D nucleation.

It has been established that a single isomer of D3h symmetry is preeminent on the Ca3(PO4)2 cluster potential energy surface. It is suggested that a large amount of calcium phosphate material is present in amorphous calcium phosphate in the form of Posner's clusters.

A new study investigates the effect of zinc and magnesium on the growth kinetics of hydroxyapatite 001 face.

The relationship between the growth rate of the hydroxyapatite (0001) face and bulk supersaturation of a simulated body fluid was measured by real-time Moire phase shift interferometry. It was found that the (0001) face grew in the multiple two-dimensional nucleation mode, from surface observation by atomic force microscopy. The growth rate data were fitted by the theoretical equation of multiple two-dimensional nucleation. Estimated edge free energy of an island nucleated on the (0001) face was found to be almost of the same order as that on the face of a lysozyme protein crystal.

A study was conducted to determine the growth rate of hydroxyapatite (001) in pseudophysiological solution by Moire phase shift interferometry. The hydroxypatite crystals were prepared by the hydrolysis of monetite based on a reaction process. Common-type interferometry was utilized to eliminate disturbances from mechanical vibrations. Results indicated that layers grown on the seed crystals were calcium-deficient hydroxypatite.

Ab initio calculations have been used to study potential energy surface associated with the Ca (sub)3 (PO (sub)4) (sub)2 cluster. Results indicate that D (sub)3h symmetry isomer has the lowest energy and that each of its calcium atoms is surrounded by four oxygen atoms.

The promoting effect of phosvitin on the nucleation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) and the inhibitory effect of phosvitin on the transformation from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to HAP were investigated. It was found that immobilized phosvitin greatly enhanced the nucleation of HAP with uniformly distributed precipitation, showing a simple contrast compared to the case in the absence of phosvitin that the nucleation took place only at some particular area.