Characterization of Calcifiable Proteolipid from Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

Proteolipid is known to initiate calcification in vitro. Apoprotein and phospholipid components of proteolipid from five of 14 calcifiable S. mutans specimens were characterized. The apoproteins contained 16 amino acids with calculated percent polarities ranging from 32.0 to 45.2. The acidic phospholipids were cardiolipin, mono- and diphosphoinositides, and phosphatidylserine. Neutral lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, were also found. The latter were the most abundant in all isolates. Appropriate hydrophobic proteins and acidic phospholipids in the proteolipids accounted for S. mutans calcifiability.