Partial cDNA sequencing of mouse dentine sialoprotein and detection of its specific expression by odontoblasts.

Dentine sialoprotein (DSP), a 53-kDa acidic glycoprotein, is expressed by odontoblasts and secreted into the dentine extracellular matrix. Although little is known about its biological function, it might play a part in dentinogenesis. Because DSP has only been shown to occur in rat dentine, it is important to demonstrate its existence in another species. Here, the presence of DSP gene in the mouse genome, and the cloning of a mouse DSP cDNA coding for about one-fifth of the molecule with a nucleotide sequence similar to that for rat cDNA, are reported. Using in-situ hybridization, DSP mRNA was uniquely detected in mouse odontoblasts.