Bacterial agglutinin activity in the saliva of human identical and fraternal twins.
The major factor in human saliva responsible for the specific aggregation of oral streptococci is a high molecular-weight glycoprotein (agglutinin). To determine if the level of this glycoprotein in whole and parotid saliva was genetically determined, agglutinin activity for Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans in saliva obtained from identical and fraternal twins was compared. Evidence for the heritability of agglutinin activity and also parotid flow rate and total protein was obtained. There was no evidence for a significant genetic contribution to salivary sodium concentration.
Malamud
D
D
Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Christensen
C M
CM
Navazesh
M
M
Davis
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000373:Agglutinins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000502:physiology*; D014427:Twins; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D000373:Agglutinins; D006023:Glycoproteins