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Identification, characterization, and expression of dentin matrix protein 1 gene in Xenopus laevis
Author(s) -
Yonekura Tomoko,
Homma Hiromi,
Sakurai Atsuo,
Moriguchi Mitsuko,
Miake Yasuo,
Toyosawa Satoru,
Shintani Seikou
Publication year - 2013
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.22529
Subject(s) - dmp1 , xenopus , biology , amniote , gene , ameloblast , complementary dna , cementoblast , microbiology and biotechnology , peptide sequence , genetics , dentin , viral matrix protein , vertebrate , enamel paint , pathology , medicine , cementum , dentistry
Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) is an acidic extracellular matrix protein expressed mainly in bone and dentin, and is a member of the small integrin‐binding ligand N‐linked glycoprotein (SIBLING) family. The DMP1 gene, however, appears to evolve rapidly in comparison with other SIBLING genes, even though such functionally important molecules usually evolve more slowly than less important ones. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize an ortholog of the DMP1 gene in an amphibian ( Xenopus laevis ; X. laevis ) to clarify molecular evolutionary alterations in DMP1 associated with calcified tissues in tetrapods. Furthermore, we analyzed the mRNA expression of this gene to elucidate its functional change in bone and developing tooth germ in comparison with amniote DMP1s. The similarities of the deduced amino acid sequence of X. laevis DMP1 to that of the corresponding amniote proteins were low, although they did share several unique features specific to DMP1 and have similar properties. Expression of X. laevis DMP1 mRNA was predominant in osteocytes and odontoblasts, but only transiently observed in ameloblasts, as in amniotes. These results suggest that DMP1 has conserved several functions during tetrapod evolution. This indicates that continuity of biochemical properties has been more important in maintaining DMP1 functionality than that of the sequence of amino acid residues, which has undergone change over the course of molecular evolution. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B: 525–537, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.