1. [Oral streptococci affecting Ca-phosphate precipitation].
- Author
-
Bergmann JE, Gülzow HJ, and Lewandowski T
- Subjects
- Calcium Fluoride metabolism, Dental Calculus metabolism, Dental Enamel Solubility, Dental Plaque microbiology, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Calcium Phosphates metabolism, Dental Calculus microbiology, Lipopolysaccharides metabolism, Streptococcus mutans physiology, Teichoic Acids metabolism
- Abstract
The precipitation of Ca-compounds in ageing dental plaque leads to the formation of calculus. Bacterial lipoteichoic acid (LTA) has been discussed as Ca-carrier in this process (Zoon et al., 1989). Therefore in this study, LTA was isolated from oral streptococci and tested for its influence on the precipitation of Ca-phosphate. LTA-containing bacteria, LTA-free bacteria and isolated LTA were added to the reaction mixtures for Ca-phosphate precipitation and the amount of precipitated mineral was measured. LTA-containing cells and, above all, LTA, inhibited Ca-phosphate precipitation in a distinct pH-range just above the acid solubility of the mineral by complexing Ca(2+)-ions. Experiments with Ca-fluoride in place of Ca-phosphate showed that LTA did not affect the precipitation of this mineral.
- Published
- 1991