In the present study we examined the protein proportion and amino acid prof
ile of the salivary micelle-like globules (SMGs) of human whole saliva and
parotid saliva (HWS, HPS). Saliva and SMG samples from each subject (clarif
ied HWS and HPS from 6 subjects, and unclarified HWS from 3 subjects) were
analysed for amino acids using standard acid hydrolysis procedures. HPS, cl
arified HWS and the respective supernatant samples (remaining after removal
of the SMGs) were also measured for protein using the micro-Kjeldahl metho
d. SMGs from clarified and unclarified HWS made up 4.7% and 19.7%, respecti
vely, of the total salivary protein based on amino acid analyses. With the
micro-Kjeldahl method SMGs from clarified HWS made up 7.3% of the total sal
iva protein. SMGs isolated from HPS were found in only small amounts. The a
mino acid profile for the SMGs was strikingly similar to that known for the
2-h pellicle, and differed significantly from HWS or HPS. The results supp
ort previous morphological studies indicating that the SMGs represent a maj
or component of the newly formed pellicle.