Changing Patterns of Enamel Matrix Proteins in the Developing Bovine Tooth

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Abstract
Regions differing in degree of mineralization were dissected from developing bovine molar teeth and the demineralized matrix proteins subjected to amino acid analysis, gel exclusion chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results demonstrate a striking reduction in the proportion of a protein complex of some 30,000 daltons molecular weight and an increasing proportion of smaller polypeptides with higher degree of mineralization within individual teeth. It is proposed that progressive degradation of the larger amelogenins yields increasing proportions of the smaller (J-group) polypeptides.