{
  "abstract": "In China, the pearl industry of Hyriopsis cumingii contributes approximately 80% of pearl production. Matrix proteins play crucial roles in shell and pearl biomineralization. However, the functions of basic matrix proteins in H. cumingii remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified a novel predicted secreted basic matrix protein, designated Songin, from the freshwater pearl mussel H. cumingii. Functional assays were performed using a chemically synthesized 53-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the predicted mature region of Songin. Songin transcripts showed a relative mantle-enriched expression pattern and were detected in dorsal mantle epithelial cells, suggesting a potential association with shell biomineralization. In the end point crystallization assay, Songin was associated with pronounced aggregation of mineral particles under Mg2+-containing aragonite-favoring conditions while exerting only minor effects on particle morphology in the calcite-favoring system. Raman spectroscopy supported the predominant polymorph assignments in the calcite-favoring and Mg2+-containing aragonite-favoring systems, and no obvious Songin-associated change in the predominant polymorph was detected under the tested conditions. Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed heterogeneous Cy5-associated fluorescence near localized regions of some mineral particles. Because free Cy5 and Cy5-labeled BSA controls were not included, nonspecific dye adsorption cannot be excluded, and these observations are regarded as preliminary qualitative information rather than evidence of specific crystal-surface binding. This study indicates that the synthetic mature-region Songin peptide was associated with pronounced mineral-particle aggregation under Mg2+-containing aragonite-favoring conditions in vitro, suggesting a potential role in mineral-particle assembly during shell biomineralization. These findings provide preliminary insight into the possible involvement of Songin in shell biomineralization.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Shanghai Ocean University , , ,",
    "Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University , , , ,",
    "University of Algarve , , Campus de Gambelas , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Leyu Fan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jiali Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Maoxiao Peng",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4855-1202"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xiaojun Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0332-2940"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5vvjreqqfyedy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1021/acsomega.6c03325",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5vvjreqqfyedy",
  "issns": [
    "2470-1343"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c03325/5460467/A-Basic-Matrix-Protein-Songin-Selectively-Promotes",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2502|Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224095233",
  "pdf_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.6c03325",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5vvjreqqfyedy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:40Z",
      "native_id": "10.1021/acsomega.6c03325",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c03325/5460467/A-Basic-Matrix-Protein-Songin-Selectively-Promotes"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2502|Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Basic Matrix Protein Songin Selectively Promotes Aragonite Aggregation and Modulates Calcium Carbonate Crystallization in Hyriopsis cumingii",
  "title_text": "A Basic Matrix Protein Songin Selectively Promotes Aragonite Aggregation and Modulates Calcium Carbonate Crystallization in Hyriopsis cumingii",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:40Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5vvjreqqfyedy",
  "venue": "ACS Omega",
  "versions": []
}