Abstract

GARCIA TRIANA, Bárbara E; DELFIN SOTO, Olayo; LAVANDERO ESPINA, Aleida M  and  SALDANA BERNABEU, Alberto. Salivary proteins: structure, function and mechanisms of action. Rev haban cienc méd [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.4, pp. 450-456. ISSN 1729-519X.

Introduction: Salivary proteins are key elements in the important functions saliva plays in the maintenance of oral health. Objective: To lay the foundations of the functions for the principal salivary proteins according to the structure-function relationship of macromolecules. Methods: A review was performed about the subject through the consultation of data bases PubMed, Hinari, Secimed, Scielo and EBSCO. Results: The molecular structures, functions and mechanisms were described for the salivary proteins: mucins, agglutinin, proline rich proteins, immunoglobulins, lysozyme, salival peroxidase, lactoferrin, statherins, cystatins and histatins. Conclusions: The mechanisms of salivary proteins make evident the structure-function relationship of macromolecules and fundament their role in saliva functions related to the maintenance of oral health.

Keywords : saliva; salivary proteins; oral health.

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