title: Cloning of rat amelotin and localization of the protein to the basal lamina of maturation stage ameloblasts and junctional epithelium.
abstract: Formation of tooth enamel is a very complex process in which a specific set of proteins secreted by ameloblasts play a primordial role. As part of a screening procedure to identify novel proteins secreted by EO (enamel organ) cells of rat incisors, we isolated a partial cDNA fragment (EO-017) that is the homologue of the recently described mouse Amtn (amelotin) gene [Iwasaki, Bajenova, Somogyi-Ganss, Miller, Nguyen, Nourkeyhani, Gao, Wendel and Ganss (2005) J. Dent. Res. 84, 1127-1132]. Presented herein is the cloning of rat and pig full-length cDNAs with their deduced protein sequences. Detailed expression profiling by Northern-blot analysis and RT (reverse transcriptase)-PCR on rat and mouse tissues revealed highest expression in the mandible, more specifically in the maturation stage of the EO. Among all tissues tested, low expression was detected only in periodontal ligament, lung, thymus and gingiva. In silico analyses revealed that the Amtn gene is highly conserved in seven other mammals, but is absent from fish, birds and amphibians. The Amtn protein is enriched in proline, leucine, glutamine and threonine (52% of total) and contains a perfectly conserved protein kinase CK2 phosphorylation site. Transient transfection experiments in HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) showed that secreted Amtn is post-translationally modified possibly through O-linked oligosaccharides on threonine residues. In concordance with its predominant expression site, immunofluorescence localization within the rat and mouse mandibles revealed Amtn localized to the basal lamina of maturation stage ameloblasts of incisors and unerupted molars. Intense Amtn protein expression was also detected in the internal basal lamina of junctional epithelium in molars. The peculiar and unique cellular localization of Amtn suggests a role in cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: St-Arnaud
authors.forename: Darrin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: J Timothy
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanci
mesh_terms: D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: C514056:Amtn protein, rat; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins