In vitro studies of adsorption of milk proteins onto tooth enamel

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to study in vitro adsorption of milk proteins onto tooth enamel. In vitro “milk protein pellicles” were formed on enamel specimens incubated in fluid milk products: skimmed milk (pH 6.7), acidified skimmed milk (pH 4.2), yoghurt and neutralized yoghurt (pH 6.7). The enamel specimens were used as such or pre-incubated in saliva. The “milk pellicles” were desorbed from enamel surfaces, and proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Proteins were identified by their pattern of migration in SDS-PAGE or by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) fingerp…