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The influence of the periostracum on the shell structure of bivalve molluscs

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Abstract

The periostracum is an outer, quinone-tanned protein layer of the bivalve shell. The conchiolin interprismatic walls of the prismatic outer layer of some bivalves are in structural continuity with the periostracum. It is suggested that calcium carbonate deposition begins so close to the margin that all the periostracal material has not polymerised by the time the first crystals of calcium carbonate are precipitated. Consequently, the periostracal protein is pushed to the edge of growing carbonate crystals, preventing their further lateral growth. Growth proceeds in a vertical direction, as columns, until the influence of the periostracum has waned. Confirmatory evidence is provided by natural-regneration periostracum sheets formed on the inner layers of the shell, which are associated with thin prismatic layers.

Résumé

La périostracum est une couche extérieure de la coquille, formée par la protéine tannée par quinone.

Les murs interprismatiques en conchioline de la couche extérieure prismatique calcifiée sont en continuité structurale avec le périostracum qui les recouvrit. L'auteur que la déposition du carbonate de calcium commence auprès le bord de la coquille de telle facon que tous les matériaux périostracales ne sont pas polymérisés avant que les premiers cristaux de carbonate de calcium soient précipités. Par conséquent, la protéine périostracale est poussée jusqu'au bord des cristaux croissants de carbonate de calcium, empêchant leur croissance latérale continue., Les prismes croient verticalement, en colonnes verticales, jusqu'à ce que l'influence du périostracum soit sur déclin. Evidence est fournie par les couches de périostracum régénérées naturellement sur les couches intérieures de la coquille, qui sont associées avec des couches prismatiques minces.

Zusammenfassung

Das Periostracum ist eine äußere, durch Chinon gegerbte Proteinschicht der doppelklappigen Muscheln. Die interprismatischen Conchiolinwände der äußeren prismatischen Schicht einiger zweischaliger Muscheln sind strukturell kontinuierlich mit dem Periostracum verbunden. Es wird angenommen, daß die Calciumcarbonat-Ablagerung so nahe am Rand beginnt, so daß nicht alles Material vom Periostracum polymerisiert ist, im Moment wo die ersten Calciumcarbonatkristalle ausfallen. Demzufolge wird das Protein vom Periostracum an die Kante der wachsenden Carbonatkristalle geschoben und verhindert somit ihr weiteres laterales Wachstum. Das Wachstum geht in vertikaler Richtung gleich Säulen vor sich, bis der Einfluß des Periostracum abnimmt. Eine Bestätigung dieser Annahme ist gegeben durch die bei der natürlichen Regeneration auf der inneren Schicht der Muschel entstandenen Periostracumblätter, welche mit dünnen prismatischen Schichten verbunden sind.

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Taylor, J.D., Kennedy, W.J. The influence of the periostracum on the shell structure of bivalve molluscs. Calc. Tis Res. 3, 274–283 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02058669

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