Biomineralization: Ion Transport and Control Processes

Crustaceans possess an exoskeleton, but unlike mollusks, the exoskeleton does not grow incrementally with the growth of the soft tissues within. The crustacean exoskeleton must be periodically molted or shed to accommodate growth. This presents a unique challenge to this taxon. The exoskeleton or cuticle is, in most species, an organic/mineral composite material. The mineral serves to harden and strengthen the composite, but the mineral must also be labile to allow it to be resorbed in preparation for each molt. This dichotomy and the precise timing of the demineralization and subsequent remineralization of the exoskeleton make the crustacean cuticle an excellent model system for the study of the processes of biomineralization and its control.