文摘
Dentin phosphophoryn (DPP) binding to hydroxyapatite mineral (HA) was modeled using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Average structure of DPP peptides, in water or adsorbed onto HA surface, is modulated by their phosphorylation. One peptide, P5 and its phosphorylated form P5P, the most frequently occurring in DPP, varied in flexibility in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The peptide’s secondary structure is controlled by phosphorylation of a serine residue located at the third position in the triplet motif DSS. Solution studies showed this phosphorylated peptide promotes HA crystal growth, whereas the unphosphorylated peptide inhibits HA crystal growth.