title: Peptide Characterization of Mature Fluorotic and Control Human Enamel.
abstract: Exposure to high fluoride levels during amelogenesis causes enamel fluorosis. This study aimed to determine and compare the amino acid sequences in the enamel of fluorotic and control teeth. This investigation included enamel samples obtained from erupted and non-erupted third molars with either TF grade 4-6 (n=7) fluorosis or no sign of fluorosis (controls, n=7). The samples were kept frozen at -20 °C until protein extraction. Samples were etched and processed with a cocktail of proteinase inhibitors and immediately analyzed. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-Of-Flight/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) followed by MASCOT search aided the peptides analysis. The more abundant peptides bore the N-terminal amelogenin sequences WYQSIRPPYP (which is specific for the X-encoded amelogenin) and MPLPPHPGHPGYINF (which does not show sexual dimorphism) were not different in control or fluorotic enamel. There was no missing proteolytic cleavage in the fluorotic samples, which suggested that the increased amount of protein described in fluorotic enamel did not stem from the decreased ability of proteinases to cleave the proteins in humans. This study showed how to successfully obtain peptide from superficial enamel. A relatively low number of teeth was sufficient to provide good data on the actual peptides found in mature enamel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Dental School of Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Maria Porto
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lelis
authors.affiliation: Departament of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Patology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Venâncio Aires, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Departament of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Bio-Agents Pathogens, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Laure
authors.affiliation: Departament of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Bio-Agents Pathogens, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Departament of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Patology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides