Annexin in mineralization process

Annexins are necessary for mineralization process. They seem to play a major role in regulation of cells competent in mineralization as well as in direct formation of mineral phase in the extracellular matrix. Their ability to accommodate to different functions in different cellular compartments is associated with their property to bind to biological membranes in a lipid- and Ca2+-dependent and independent manners. The aim of this review is to describe potential functions of the annexin family of proteins in a mineralization process with special emphasis to structure-function relationships of annexins.