title: Enamel cell biology. Towards a comprehensive biochemical understanding.
abstract: Enamel cells ultimately determine the properties of dental enamel. Surprisingly little is known about enamel cell functions at the biochemical and molecular levels. Understanding of both normal and abnormal enamel formation should benefit from elucidation of this area. This paper reviews our recent efforts to establish microscale biochemical analyses of rat enamel cells, and the ensuing initial findings about their protein phenotype (i.e., proteome) and calcium-handling mechanisms. A perspective of the current status of enamel cell research, and where it might head, is also given.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. mike.hubbard@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hubbard
mesh_terms: D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000145:classification; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D002118:Calcium