title: GD3 synthase gene found expressed in dental epithelium and shown to regulate cell proliferation.
abstract: GD3 synthase is one of the key enzymes involved with ganglioside synthesis, and its activity regulates the main profile of ganglioside expression. We analyzed the expression of the GD3 synthase gene in laser-dissected teeth germs using RT-PCR. The GD3 synthase gene was found expressed in brain, thymus, and tooth germ tissues, however, not in liver or skin specimens. Further, it was highly expressed during the early stage of tooth germ development (embryonic day 14.5), especially in dental epithelia, which gradually reduced in the molar site until postnatal day 7, whereas it was not in dental mesenchyme tissues. In addition, dental epithelial cells transiently transfected with the GD3 synthase gene showed enhanced proliferation. These results indicate that the GD3 synthase gene may be involved in early tooth development, particularly in the proliferation of dental epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Developmental and Reconstructive Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamasaki
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida-Yonemochi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saku
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000201:enzymology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D008055:Lipids; C086724:Lipofectamine; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D012799:Sialyltransferases; C043662:alpha-N-acetylneuraminate alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase