New paradigm of enamel maturation: Mechanisms of non-endocytotic resorption and degradation of enamel matrix proteins

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390408
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: TAKANO Yoshiro 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 教授 (90126425)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TABATA J Makoto 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 准教授 (20243248)
• Research Collaborator: ISEKI Hachiro
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: emamel matrix / amelogenin / proteasome / ubiquitin / endocytosis / ameloblast

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Massive removal of organic matrix components from immature enamel is essential for the induction of large apatite crystals and ultimately high mineralization of the unique dental tissue of epithelial origin.
Amelogenesis is characterized by degradation and re-absorption of enamel matrix proteins in both secretory and maturation stages of amelogenesis but how exactly the ameloblasts remove organic constituents is not well documented. Current study confirmed existence of organic anion transporters (OATs) in the Tomes’ process and ruffled border membranes of ameloblasts and that ameloblasts transport the cleavage product of enamel matrix proteins via OATs to the cytosol for final processing through the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

Free Research Field

形態系基礎歯科学