Effect of phosphoproteins on intracellular calcification of bacteria

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosphoproteins on bacterial mineralization. Dental calculus formation is attributed to bacterial mineralization in the oral cavity; however, the influence of phosphoproteins (which are abundant in saliva) is not clear. The model bacterium Escherichia coli was suspended in a calcification solution containing casein as a model phosphoprotein. To evaluate mineralization independent of bacterial metabolism, bacteria killed by heat treatment at 70°C were compared with viable bacteria. After incubation at 37°C for 24 h, the mode of calcification was observed using electron microscopy and energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy. Solutions without casein produced precipitation in solution, which was identical to that in experiments without bacteria. In contrast, calcification solutions with 200 ppm casein only produced calcium phosphate deposition intracellularly. Without heat treatment, intracellular calcification rarely occurred, even when casein was added. Thus, phosphoproteins promoted intracellular calcification of dead bacteria; this is similar to the calcification of insoluble matrices, such as collagen fibrils, promoted by acidic polymers. We concluded that intracellular calcification is caused by the collagen fibril‐like behavior of dead bacteria. The promotion of intracellular calcification of dead bacteria by phosphoproteins suggested a basic principle of dental calculus formation.

Unveiling chemical responses in the kombucha-based fermentation of black tea, banana flower, and grape juice: LC-ESIMS, GNPS, MS-DIAL, and MS-FINDER-assisted chemical characterization

“…41,42 Thus, these compounds play important roles under these conditions in signal transduction such as intracellular enrichment with mineral nutrients of microorganisms. 43 Most of the chemical constituents of these microorganisms’ membranes were composed of sphingolipids, a diglyceride, and bacteriohopanetetrols. The presence of a bacteriohopanetetrol skeleton containing an additional CH 3 group or olefinic bonds depends on the microorganism species.…”