Studies on the organic polyanionic constituents of human acquired dental pellicle

Extracts of acquired dental pellicle were obtained by a two-step procedure. Pellicle formed on cleaned teeth was first extracted using 2 M CaCl2, and the remainder then removed by scraping followed by solubilization in 5 per cent (w/v) EDTA. The 2 M CaCl2 extract contained high-molecular-weight glycoprotein which was present in only trace amounts in the EDTA extract. Cellulose-acetate electrophoresis of both extracts revealed low-molecular weight protein which contained phosphate. This protein tentatively identified as a phosphoprotein, disappeared as the pellicle matured. The findings have implications in relation to early bacterial colonization of the tooth surface.