The single phosphoprotein of fetal calf dentin, having a molecular weight of approximately 94,000 and a phosphorus content of 8% (w/w), was examined by³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The single resonance at 3.7 ppm at pH 10 and its chemical shift during acid titration established the phosphomonoester nature of the organic phosphorus moiety. During titration of the phosphoprotein with CaCl₂ in the presence of inorganic orthophosphate ions, line broadening for the orthophosphate resonance was both phosphoprotein- and calcium-dependent, indicating ternary complex formation. The data indicate that the phosphoprotein of fetal calf dentin binds both calcium and inorganic orthophosphate ions and therefore has the requisite physical chemical properties necessary for it to facilitate the heterogeneous nucleation of a Ca-PO₄ solid phase from solution during tissue mineralization.