Inhibition of adhesion-promoting activity of a human salivary protein which promotes adhesion of Streptococcus mutans JBP to hydroxyapatite.

The adhesion-promoting proteins (APP) (molecular mass approx. 300 kDa), which promote adhesion of Streptococcus mutans JBP (serotype c) to hydroxyapatite, were isolated from human submandibular-sublingual (SMSL) saliva by gel filtration on a Trisacryl GP2000 M column. The effects of hexoses, pentoses, methyl-pentoses, hexosamines, N-acetylhexosamines, a basic amino acid, polyamines and ammonium chloride on the bacterial adhesion-promoting activity of the APP were examined. Galactosamine, mannosamine, L-lysine, spermine, putrescine, and ammonium chloride inhibited the adhesion-promoting activities of the APP. The other sugars, including the N-acetylhexosamines, were without effect. Thus, compounds containing a primary amino-group appear to have a specific inhibitory effect on adhesion of S. mutans JBP to APP adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite, an activity which is lost if the amino-group is acetylated.