title: DMP1 is a target of let-7 in dental pulp cells.
abstract: Members of the let-7 family have been shown to play a critical role in cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. However, potential targets of let-7 are still unclear. In the current study, we used bioinformatic analysis combined with DNA sequence analysis to identify potential let-7 targets. We discovered that dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), which is a non-collagenous protein essential in the mineralization of dentin and bone, has a let-7 binding site in its 3'-untranslated region. Furthermore, reporter assays demonstrated that the DMP1 3'-untranslated region can be regulated directly by the members of let-7. Gene expression levels of let-7 and DMP1 were validated by qRT-PCR of dental pulp cells cultured in a mineralizing medium. Our results suggest that DMP1 is regulated post-transcriptionally by let-7 during odontoblast differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, College of Stomatology,                     Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Buling
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Changxia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fuchun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C513309:DMP1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C487931:mirnlet7 microRNA, human