The amelogenin problem: a comparison of purified enamel matrix proteins.

Using a combination of gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, together with small-scale preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we isolated five proteins (amelogenins) from demineralized bovine fetal dental enamel matrix. These purified proteins were characterized by amino acid analysis and gel electrophoresis. Comparisons of these data with those of other workers suggest that, although there are similarities in the published data between components of comparable electrophoretic mobility, there are gross differences in the reported amino acid compositions. It is suggested that these differences are due not to separative problems arising from reversible aggregations, but to inadequate comparisons of the electrophoretic and amino acid analytical data.