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Elevated expression of calcineurin subunits during active mineralization of developing mouse molar teeth
Author(s) -
Oshima Shohei,
Watanabe Masahiko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2012.00987.x
Subject(s) - ameloblast , calcineurin , odontoblast , protein subunit , gene isoform , dentinogenesis , chemistry , in situ hybridization , microbiology and biotechnology , dentin , biology , messenger rna , biochemistry , enamel paint , medicine , gene , transplantation , pathology , dentistry
Calcineurin is a C a 2+ /calmodulin‐dependent protein phosphatase consisting of two subunits – catalytic subunit A ( C n A ) and regulatory subunit B ( C n B ) – and plays a critical role in transducing C a 2+ signals into cellular responses. In this study, we investigated the expression of calcineurin in the mouse developing tooth. In‐situ hybridization detected m RNA s for the C n A α and C n A β isoforms of C n A and for the C n B 1 isoform of C n B in the upper molar tooth germ at embryonic day 15. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies specific for C n A α, C n A β, and C n B 1 showed strong immunoreactivity of these proteins in secretory‐stage ameloblasts and in odontoblasts during dentin formation. C n A β and C n B 1 were strongly immunoreactive in ruffle‐ended ameloblasts at the enamel‐maturation stage. In ameloblasts and odontoblasts, we also noted different subcellular distributions of C n A α and C n A β. From these data, temporal profiles of calcineurin expression appear to correlate with active mineralization in tooth development. Furthermore, the distinct subcellular distribution of the two C n A subunits may reflect their distinct substrates or responsive sites within single cells, thus contributing to the diversity of calcineurin‐dependent cellular responses during active tooth mineralization.