title: Expression pattern of transglutaminases in the early differentiation stage of erupting rat incisor.
abstract: Several studies demonstrated that transglutaminases play a key role in extracellular matrix stabilization needed for cell differentiation. We evaluated transglutaminase expression and activity in the pre-secretory stage of differentiation of the continuously erupting rat incisor. We observed that transglutaminase-mediated incorporation of monodansylcadaverine into protein substrates was specifically located in the apical loop, and along the basement membrane joining mesenchyme and inner dental epithelium in the odontogenic organ. Enzyme activity was associated with mRNAs for transglutaminase 1 and 2. Notably, labelling cells for these isoenzymes were observed in both mesenchymal and epithelial compartments, but not in the basement membrane, in the ameloblast facing pulp anterior region, where ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation begins. These findings demonstrate that transglutaminase 1 and transglutaminase 2 are expressed at a major extent in the pre-secretory stage of regenerating rat incisor, where they probably play complementary roles in cell signalling between mesenchyme and epithelium and extracellular matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, Policlinico Universitario, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Condello
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Currò
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cutroneo
authors.forename: Giuseppe Pio
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Anastasi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ientile
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D007180:Incisor / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C000717609:Tgm2 protein, rat; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases