Proteins associated with mineralization in vertebrates along with their tissue distribution, their effect on mineralization in vitro, and their potential role in vivo.

aThe effect of the proteins on mineralization was studied in vitro following their adsorption onto solid substrates such as agarose beads, agarose gels, or collagen fibrils.bThe term “Nucleator” refers to a protein which is able to induce mineral formation in a metastable solution where precipitation does not occur spontaneously. An “Inhibitor” consists of a protein which has the ability to delay or prevent mineral formation.cThe effect of various proteins on mineralization was also studied following dissolution of each protein into a liquid buffer.dThe word “Structure” refers to a protein which does not appear to induce or inhibit mineral formation by itself, but which is known to be important for the disposition and the arrangement of minerals formed in vivo.*The potential role of each protein during mineralization in vivo was proposed based on gene deletion studies in laboratory animals when available; in this case, the proteins were denoted with a single asterisk. A role for the other proteins shown was proposed based on limited functional studies giving sometimes divergent results; the role of these proteins should therefore be considered with strong reservation.**Inhibition of pancreatic stones of calcium carbonate.***Inhibition of kidney stones of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.This Table was adapted and modified from the review by Benesch et al. [100].