title: Enamel matrix proteins and ameloblast biology.
abstract: The paper reviews the changes in ameloblast ultrastructure, concomitant with the changes in its functions across the major stages of amelogenesis. It describes the mechanisms associated with the major events in biosynthesis and degradation of the major enamel proteins (amelogenins and tuftelin/enamelins) and with the presecretory and postsecretory mechanisms leading to the heterogeneity of these extracellular matrix proteins. The gene structure, chromosomal localization, protein, primary structure and possible function, and the involvement of the different proteins in X-linked (amelogenin) and possibly in autosomally linked (tuftelin) amelogenesis imperfecta, the most common hereditary disease of enamel, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Hebrew University Hadassah, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalano-Sherman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dafni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmon
mesh_terms: D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000566:Amelogenesis; D000567:Amelogenesis Imperfecta / Q000235:genetics; D053523:Amelogenin; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053523:Amelogenin; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C038456:tuftelin