The role of the zinc transporter in tooth development

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09884
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57010:Oral biological science-related
• Research Institution: Iwate Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Ibi Miho 岩手医科大学, 歯学部, 特任講師 (30609665)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 入江 太朗 岩手医科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (00317570) ; 深田 俊幸 徳島文理大学, 薬学部, 教授 (70373363) ; 佐藤 泰生 岩手医科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (40244941)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯の発生 / 亜鉛トランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Various transporters and ion channels localized in enamel epithelial cells are involved in tooth formation. Recently, zinc transporters have been the focus of research in various fields, including diabetes, bone metabolic disorders, and wound healing, however, there have been no reports on their role in tooth development. Therefore, in this study, we focused on zinc signaling via zinc transporters and aimed to elucidate a novel pathway mediated by zinc transporters in the tooth development.

Free Research Field

生化学　細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

天然歯の再生は歯の構成成分の複雑さゆえ日常的な臨床応用には至っていない。今回歯の発生および形成過程において亜鉛トランスポーターを介した亜鉛シグナルとの関係が明らかとなれば歯の再生方法の新規戦略創出の一助となることが期待される。