Proteins and peptides containing clusters of phosphoseryl residues have been shown to stabilize amorphous calcium phosphate in solution, and have been implicated in the regulation of biomineralisation processes. Casein phosphopeptides (CPP) containing the cluster sequence -Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu- have been demonstrated to significantly reduce the level of dental caries (tooth decay) in animal and human experiments and also to repair early stages of decay. Through their multiple phosphoseryl residues the peptides bind to forming nanoclusters of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) in metastable solution, preventing their growth to the critical size required for nucleation and phase transformation. Conformational and binding studies have shown that all the phosphoseryl residues are important in interaction with ACP. The CPP localise ACP at the tooth surface providing a reservoir of calcium and phosphate ions thereby helping to maintain a state of supersaturation with respect to tooth enamel. The CPP-ACP, unlike fluoride, can be added to sugar-containing foods as well as oral care products for the control of dental caries.
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Eric C. Reynolds (1999) studied this question.