Abstract: A poly-amino acid compound capable of inhibiting mineral deposition, which has the structure:poly (X).sub.n poly (Y).sub.mwhereeach X is a residue independently selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, and phosphothreonine,each Y is independently a residue selected from the group consisting of alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine and glycine,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m.gtoreq.5,and wherein poly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a tooth so as to inhibit deposition of a mineral thereon, which comprises contacting the tooth with a mineral deposition inhibitory effective amount of a poly-amino acid compound which has the structure:poly(X).sub.n poly(Y).sub.mwhere each X is a residue independently selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, and phosphothreonine,each Y is independently a residue selected from the group consisting of alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine and glycine,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m<5,and wherein poly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof,in combination with an orally acceptable vehicle compatible with said compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of calcium carbonate-containing deposits on a surface by applying a composition comprising an anticalcification-effective amount of a polysaccharide or derivative thereof. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation (inhibition) of inorganic scaling, as well as, for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of CaCO.sub.3 -containing deposits on a surface, by applying a composition comprising an anti-calcification effective amount of the polysaccharide-containing fraction substantially devoid of proteinaceous material, isolated from a CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissue obtained from a CaCO.sub.3 -forming organism. The fractions can be isolated from a variety of CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissues, including but not limited to algae coccolith and the like. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation of inorganic scaling, as well as, for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.