title: Expression of core binding factor Osf2/Cbfa-1 and bone sialoprotein in tooth development.
abstract: The transcription factor Osf2/Cbfa1 is a key regulator of osteogenic differentiation while BSP, a major non-collagenous protein, is a marker of osteoblastic differentiation. To determine the relationship between Osf2/Cbfa1 and the formation of mineralized tissues in tooth development we have studied the temporal expression of Osf2/Cbfa1 and BSP mRNA using in situ hybridization. These studies show that Osf2/Cbfa1 is expressed early in mesenchymal and epithelial tissues destined to form the mineralized tissues of the tooth and periodontal tissues, whereas BSP provides a specific marker for the differentiated cells in each of these tissues. Expression of Osf2/Cbfa1, but not BSP, was observed in the periodontal ligament indicating that expression of Osf2/Cbfa1 is not restricted to mineralizing tissues.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050660:Core Binding Factors; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014070:Tooth / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*