Protein loss of bovine dental enamel during in-vitro subsurface demineralization.
A chemical system based on the dialysis principle was used to study protein loss of dental enamel during demineralization with an acetic-acid buffer solution containing calcium and phosphate, in which the fluoride-ion activity was kept constant. This resulted in a subsurface lesion, with a depth of about 130 microns. After demineralization, protein material was isolated from the demineralization solution. u.v. Spectra of the protein showed strong absorbance between 240 and 300 nm. Amino-acid composition showed high glycine, glutamic acid, proline, serine and aspartic acid contents. After 10 days demineralization, the total protein loss was 3 micrograms cm-2; the mineral loss was 16 mg cm-2. Compared with the total enamel-protein content (0.06-0.09 wt per cent) protein loss (0.018 per cent of total lost material) was not proportional to the mineral loss, when a subsurface lesion was formed.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000378:metabolism*; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D008903:Minerals; D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium