Distribution of amelotin in mouse tooth development.
Amelotin is expressed and secreted by ameloblasts in tooth development, but amelotin distribution during enamel development is not clear. In this report, we first investigated amelotin expression in developing teeth by immunohistochemistry. Amelotin was detected in the enamel matrix at the secretion and maturation stages of enamel development. Amelotin was also observed at Tomes' processes on the apical ends of secretory ameloblasts. We then compared amelotin gene expression with those of amelogenin, enamelin, and ameloblastin in the mandibles of postnatal mice by RT-PCR. The expression of amelotin was detected as early as in postnatal day 0 mandibles and amelotin was coexpressed with amelogenin, ameloblastin, and enamelin during tooth development. These data strongly suggest that amelotin is an enamel matrix protein expressed at the secretion and maturation stages of enamel development.
Gao
Yuguang
Y
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Institute of Stomatology, Weifang Medical University, Kuiwen District, Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. yuguanggao@wfmc.edu.cn
Wang
Wanchun
W
Sun
Yan
Y
Zhang
Juanjuan
J
Li
Dongliang
D
Wei
Yahong
Y
Han
Tingting
T
D053523:Amelogenin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008963:Molar / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C490890:Ambn protein, mouse; D053523:Amelogenin; C507066:Amtn protein, mouse; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger