Crystallization of Coccolith Calcite at Different Life-Cycle Phases Exhibits Distinct Degrees of Cellular Confinement

Coccolithophores are a group of unicellular marine algae that shape global geochemical cycles via the production of calcium carbonate crystals. Interestingly, different life-cycle phases of the same coccolithophore species produce very different calcitic scales, called coccoliths. In the widely studied diploid phase, the crystals have anisotropic and complex morphologies, while haploid cells produce coccoliths consisting solely of calcite crystals with simple rhombohedral morphology. Understanding how these two life-cycle phases control crystallization is a highly sought-after goal, yet, haploid phase crystallization has rarely been studied, and the process by which they form is unknown. Herein, advanced electron microscopy is employed to elucidate the cellular architecture of the calcification process in haploid cells. The results show that in contrast to diploid-phase calcification, the coccolith-forming vesicle of haploid-phase cells is voluminous. In this solution-like environment, the crystals nucleate and grow asynchronously in a process that resembles calcite growth in bulk solution, leading to the simple morphologies of the crystals. The two distinct mineralization regimes of coccolithophore life-cycle phases suggest that cellular architecture, and specifically confinement of the crystallization process, is a pivotal determinant of biomineral morphology and assembly.