Inhibition of seeded growth of enamel apatite crystals by amelogenin and enamelin proteins in vitro.

The effect of enamel matrix proteins on the seeded growth of enamel apatite crystals was studied in stable supersaturated solutions at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. Of the two major protein classes in the enamel matrix, the enamelins were considerably more effective than the amelogenins in retarding seeded growth. However, the amelogenin species that did show significant inhibitory activity are those known to be lost first from the enamel matrix during the rapid mineralization stage of enamel maturation.