Related Experiment Videos
De novo gene expression detected by amelogenin gene transcript analysis
Developmental Biology
|July 1, 1984
Summary
Dental ectomesenchymal cells instruct epithelial cells during mouse molar development. Amelogenin-encoding RNA and polypeptides, crucial for enamel, are first detected at Theiler stage 27, indicating early gene expression during tooth organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Tooth organogenesis involves reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
- Dental ectomesenchymal cells induce adjacent epithelial cells to produce enamel-specific proteins called amelogenins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the precise timing of amelogenin gene product expression in developing mouse molars.
- To investigate the onset of transcription and translation for amelogenins.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cytoplasmic RNA from developing mouse teeth using hybridization with an amelogenin cDNA probe.
- Immunoprecipitation to detect amelogenin polypeptides.
Main Results:
- De novo expression of amelogenin-encoding RNA was first detected at Theiler stage 27.
- Immunoprecipitated amelogenin polypeptides were also first identified at Theiler stage 27.
- These findings correlate with the onset of enamel protein synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Ectomesenchymal induction of inner enamel epithelia triggers amelogenin RNA transcription.
- Subsequent translation leads to the appearance of amelogenin polypeptides.
- These molecular events are initiated by Theiler stage 27, preceding birth.