Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

High Resolution Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization within Zebrafish Embryos to Study Gene Expression and Function
Published on: October 19, 2013
Family-with-sequence-similarity-46, member A (Fam46a) gene is expressed in developing tooth buds
Godfrey E Etokebe1, Axel M Küchler, Guttorm Haraldsen
1Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway. godfrey.etokebe@odont.uio.no
Objective:
In search for possible novel genes that may be involved in tooth development, we analysed the genome-wide transcriptome of developing mandibular tooth germs of mouse during embryonic and early life and selected family-with-sequence-similarity-46, member A (Fam46a) gene for further expression analysis.
Methods:
We applied microarray, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation methods for the expression study of the mouse Fam46a gene.
Results:
We found the family-with-sequence-similarity-46, member A (Fam46a) gene to be highly expressed and further verify its temporo-spatial expression in the mouse tooth.
Conclusion:
We have shown that Fam46a is expressed in ameloblasts' nuclei of tooth germs and hypothesise that it might act together with morphogenetic factors important for the formation of enamel in mouse tooth.
Related Concept Videos
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Protein Families
Determination
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
