Inhibition of streptococcal growth, F-ATPase and pyrophosphatase by diphosphonates.

1-Hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) and a variety of other diphosphonates, and also pyrophosphate, at millimolar levels were found to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans GS-5. Inhibition appeared to be due mainly to chelation of Mg2+ and could be readily reversed through addition of Mg2+, or less effectively, by other divalent cations. The trianionic forms of the diphosphonates or pyrophosphate were more effective inhibitors than the dianionic forms.