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Fig. 5 | BMC Molecular and Cell Biology

Fig. 5

From: Avian eggshell biomineralization: an update on its structure, mineralogy and protein tool kit

Fig. 5

Proposed role for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in eggshell calcification. The EVs bud by exocytosis from the plasma membrane of the uterine cells. EVs transit the uterine fluid (UF) to deliver stabilized ACC (amorphous calcium carbonate) to the mineralization sites (MS). The passage of EV-encapsulated ACC avoids non-specific precipitation in the UF and provides stabilized ACC to the MS. Annexins allow calcium to penetrate into vesicles. EDIL3 (in bold) guides the EVs by targeting calcium to the mineralization front. Graphical elements were from Servier Medical Art (https://smart.servier.com/), licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Adapted from Stapane [25]

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