Premium
Molecular genetics of ameloblast cell lineage
Author(s) -
Bei Marianna
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of experimental zoology part b: molecular and developmental evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-5015
pISSN - 1552-5007
DOI - 10.1002/jez.b.21261
Subject(s) - ameloblast , amelogenesis , enamel paint , odontoblast , amelogenin , amelogenesis imperfecta , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , enamel organ , dentin , anatomy , genetics , gene , pathology , dentistry , medicine
Late tooth morphogenesis is characterized by a series of events that determine crown morphogenesis and the histodifferentiation of epithelial cells into enamel‐secreting ameloblasts and of mesenchymal cells into dentin‐secreting odontoblasts. Functional ameloblasts are tall, columnar, polarized cells that synthesize and secrete a number of enamel‐specific proteins. After depositing the full thickness of enamel matrix, ameloblasts shrink in size and regulate enamel maturation. Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited defects in enamel formation. Clinically, AI presents as a spectrum of enamel malformations that are categorized as hypoplastic, hypocalcified, or hypomaturation types, based upon the thickness and hardness of the enamel. The different types of AI are inherited, either as X‐linked, autosomal‐dominant, or autosomal‐recessive traits. Recently, several gene mutations have been identified to cause the subtypes of AI. How these genes, however, coordinate their function to control amelogenesis is not understood. In this review, we discuss the role of genes that play definitive role on the determination of ameloblast cell fate and life cycle based on studies in transgenic animals. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 312B:437–444, 2009 . © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.