Dentin sialoprotein, dentin phosphoprotein, enamelysin and ameloblastin: tooth-specific molecules that are distinctively expressed during murine dental differentiation.

Dentin sialophosphoprotein [designated DSPP and cleaved into dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP)], enamelysin and ameloblastin are each expressed in unique fashions during tooth development. It is possible that these components participate in cell differentiation and the conversion of unmineralized matrix into mineralized structures. In order to delineate the timing and the positioning of these three molecules in a physiological context, we compared their expression profiles by performing in situ hybridization experiments on consecutive sections in developing mouse tissues. Hybridization signals were uniquely detected for DSPP mRNA in odontoblasts and preameloblasts, for enamelysin mRNA in odontoblasts and in the facing ameloblast layer, and for ameloblastin mRNA in preodontoblasts, polarizing odontoblasts and ameloblasts. Immunohistochemistry showed that DSP and ameloblastin transcripts were translated into proteins that were deposited at the apical pole of the differentiated cells (odontoblasts and ameloblasts, respectively). The interrelated expression profiles found for these tooth-specific molecules illustrate the importance of a specific molecular network to initiate highly regulated processes such as cytodifferentiation and the subsequent mineralization.