scholarly journals Cytochemical and biochemical characterization of glycoproteins in forming and maturing enamel of the rat incisor.

1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1619-1633 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Nanci ◽  
J P Ahluwalia ◽  
S Zalzal ◽  
C E Smith

Biochemical and histochemical studies have shown the presence of various carbohydrates in enamel. Using lectin-gold cytochemistry, we have examined the distribution of glycoconjugates containing N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) and/or N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc)/N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NeuNAc) residues in rat incisor ameloblasts and in forming and maturing enamel embedded in Lowicryl K4M, LR Gold, and LR White resins. The enamel proteins that contain these carbohydrate moieties were further characterized by lectin blotting. All three resins allowed, albeit to a variable degree, detection of the binding sites for Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) GalNAc, and GlcNAc/NeuNAc, respectively. In general, Lowicryl K4M permitted more intense reactions with both lectins. Lectin binding was observed over the rough endoplasmic reticulum (weak labeling with WGA), the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, secretory granules, and the enamel matrix. These compartments were shown by double labeling with WGA and anti-amelogenin antibody, and by previous immunocytochemical studies, to contain enamel proteins. Furthermore, WGA binding was more concentrated at the growth sites of enamel. Lectin blotting showed that several proteins in the amelogenin group were glycosylated and contained the sugars GalNAc and GlcNAc/NeuNAc. Fewer proteins were stained by HPA than by WGA, and the staining pattern suggested that the extracellular proteins recognized by these two lectins are processed differently. The HPA-reactive proteins were lost by or during the early maturation stage, whereas many of the WGA-reactive proteins persisted into the mid maturation stage. The heterogeneous staining of certain protein bands observed with WGA suggests that they contain more than one component. Two distinct glycoproteins containing GlcNAc/NeuNAc also appeared during the maturation stage. These results are consistent with the notion that ameloblasts produce an extracellular matrix composed mainly of glycosylated amelogenins which are differently processed throughout amelogenesis.

1987 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Denbesten ◽  
M.A. Crenshaw

Exposure to chronic high levels of fluoride results in the formation of fluorosed enamel. Although enamel may be more susceptible to fluorotic effects at certain stages of development, fluoride at sufficiently high levels may affect enamel at all stages of formation. Careful study of the changes in enamel caused by chronic fluoride ingestion is needed to understand more fully the mechanisms involved in the formation of fluorotic enamel. This paper discusses the various studies we have completed to define the changes, in developing enamel of the rat incisor, caused by long-term ingestion of fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride has been found to inhibit secretion of enamel proteins. Changes in the maturation stage of enamel formation include the retention of amelogenin proteins during early maturation. The various mechanisms which have been investigated in the formation of fluorosed enamel include a direct effect of fluoride on the enamel organ, and specific interactions of fluoride with the extracellular enamel matrix. Although the same amount of protease appears to be secreted in fluorosed and control enamel, a delay in the digestion of amelogenin protein occurs. This suggests that fluoride may directly or indirectly inhibit the protease present in fluorosed enamel to slow the proteolysis of amelogenins.


1996 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Inage ◽  
H. Shimokawa ◽  
K. Wakao ◽  
S. Sasaki

Gene expression and localization of amelogenin were studied in the developing rat incisor by the methods of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. ISH revealed the first expression of amelogenin mRNA in the inner enamel epithelium of the cervical loop. The signals were clearly observed in pre-ameloblasts in the region bordering on predentin formation and became more intense toward the cells on the initial enamel matrix secretion. The maximal signals were found in the cytoplasm of secretory ameloblasts. From the terminal secretion zone, the signals then became gradually weaker toward the incisal edge but were still evident in the cytoplasm of shortening, transitional ameloblasts and those at the early maturation stage. No signals were found in the cells of the stratum intermedium and stellate reticulum throughout amelogenesis. Immunohistochemistry by means of an antibody against amelogenin C-telopeptide consisting of 12 amino acids revealed immunoreaction in the secretory ameloblasts reacting to the ISH. When a polyclonal antibody against amelogenin was used, immunoreaction was found in the distal ends of ruffle-ended ameloblasts (RA) in the maturation zone. Those results indicated that amelogenin is synthesized by ameloblastic cells from the inner enamel epithelium to the early maturation stage and is then resorbed by the RA.


1984 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yamamoto ◽  
S. Matsuo ◽  
T. Nishimoto ◽  
S. Wakisaka ◽  
H. Ichikawa ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Denbesten ◽  
L.M. Heffernan

Dental enamel formed during ingestion of high levels of fluoride in drinking water has an increased organic content in the maturation stage, which may be due to a delay in the breakdown of amelogenins during the early-maturation stage of enamel formation. This delay in the breakdown of amelogenins in fluorosed enamel suggests an effect of fluoride on enamel proteases which hydrolyze the early secreted enamel proteins. In this study, we compared the proteases present in fluorosed and control secretory-stage and maturation-stage enamel. Enamel was demineralized and separated in SDS gels containing 0.1% gelatin. After incubation in 100 mmol/L Tris-HCI, pH 8, with 10 mmol/L CaCl2, the gels were stained with Coomassie Blue, and proteases were seen as clear zones of degraded gelatin. Similar bands of proteolytic activity were seen in fluorosed and in control enamel. In the maturation stage, more proteases were present than in the secretory stage of enamel formation. Less digestion of gelatin substrate occurred in several proteases found in the fluorosed maturation-stage enamel as compared with the control maturation-stage enamel. This suggests that the amount of protease secreted or the activity of the proteases may be altered in fluorosed maturation-stage enamel.


Author(s):  
Ellen Holm Nielsen

In secretory cells a dense and complex network of actin filaments is seen in the subplasmalemmal space attached to the cell membrane. During exocytosis this network is undergoing a rearrangement facilitating access of granules to plasma membrane in order that fusion of the membranes can take place. A filamentous network related to secretory granules has been reported, but its structural organization and composition have not been examined, although this network may be important for exocytosis.Samples of peritoneal mast cells were frozen at -70°C and thawed at 4°C in order to rupture the cells in such a gentle way that the granule membrane is still intact. Unruptured and ruptured cells were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.075% glutaraldehyde, dehydrated in ethanol. For TEM (transmission electron microscopy) cells were embedded in Lowicryl K4M at -35°C and for SEM (scanning electron microscopy) they were placed on copper blocks, critical point dried and coated. For immunoelectron microscopy ultrathin sections were incubated with monoclonal anti-actin and colloidal gold labelled IgM. Ruptured cells were also placed on cover glasses, prefixed, and incubated with anti-actin and colloidal gold labelled IgM.


2003 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 982-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Nagano ◽  
S. Oida ◽  
H. Ando ◽  
K. Gomi ◽  
T. Arai ◽  
...  

Amelogenin, enamelin, sheathlin (ameloblastin/ amelin), enamelysin (MMP-20), and KLK4 (EMSP-1) are the major structural proteins and proteinases in developing tooth enamel. Recently, odontoblasts were reported to express amelogenin, the most abundant enamel protein. In this study, we hypothesized that odontoblasts express all enamel proteins and proteases, and we measured their relative mRNA levels in enamel organ epithelia and odontoblasts associated with porcine secretory- and maturation-stage enamel by RT-PCR, using a LightCycler instrument. The results showed that amelogenin mRNA in secretory-stage EOE is 320-fold higher than in odontoblasts beneath secretory-stage enamel, and over 20,000-fold higher than in odontoblasts under maturation-stage enamel. Similar results were obtained for enamelin and sheathlin. Enamelysin mRNA levels were equivalent in these two tissues, while KLK4 mRNA was higher in odontoblasts than in secretory-stage EOE. These results support the conclusion that odontoblasts are involved in the formation of the enamel layer adjacent to enamel-dentin junction.


2009 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kikuko Hotta ◽  
Masahiro Hosaka ◽  
Atsushi Tanabe ◽  
Toshiyuki Takeuchi

Functional variations in the secretogranin III (SCG3) gene are associated with susceptibility to obesity. SCG3 forms secretory granules with orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and POMC in the hypothalamus. In this study, we screened proteins for SCG3-binding activity and identified secretogranin II (SCG2) using a yeast two-hybrid system. Immunoprecipitation revealed that SCG2 interacts with SCG3. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry indicated that SCG2 was highly expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area, paraventricular nucleus, and arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Double-labeling immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that SCG2 was expressed in orexin-, MCH-, NPY-, and POMC-expressing neurons. SCG2 was also coexpressed with SCG3. Upon introduction into neuroblastoma cells, SCG2 was expressed in the cytosol and formed granule-like structures with SCG3, orexin, NPY, or POMC. SCG3 bound to POMC; however, it did not bind to orexin, MCH, or NPY. By contrast, SCG2 formed aggregates with orexin, MCH, NPY, and POMC. SCG2 may act as a hormone carrier for orexin, MCH, NPY, and POMC by binding with SCG3, which targets proteins to the secretory granules. SCG2 mRNA levels increased along with those of SCG3, orexin, MCH, and NPY after a 24-h fast, suggesting that the SCG2/SCG3 system may respond in an adaptive manner to acute body weight changes. However, this SCG2/SCG3 system appears to be unresponsive to chronic body weight changes, such as diet-induced obesity or obesity in ob/ob mice. We suggest that SCG2, as well as SCG3, may be a potential regulator of food intake based on its capacity to accumulate appetite-related hormones into secretory granules.


1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 1469-1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Eisenmann ◽  
A H Salama ◽  
A M Zaki ◽  
S H Ashrafi

Colchicine is known to affect secretory, transport, and degradative functions of ameloblasts. The effects of colchicine on membrane-associated calcium and Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase in secretory and maturation ameloblasts were investigated cytochemically. The pyroantimonate (PPA) method was used for localizing calcium and a modified Wachstein-Meisel medium was used to localize Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase. Sections representing secretory and early maturation stages were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Morphological changes induced by colchicine included dislocated organelles and other well-established reactions to such anti-microtubule drugs. Calcium pyroantimonate (Ca-PA) deposits in most ameloblast types were markedly reduced, with the greater reduction occurring in those cells more severely altered morphologically. However, the cell membranes of both control and experimental smooth-ended maturation ameloblasts were essentially devoid of Ca-PA. The normal distribution and intensity of Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase was not affected by colchicine. Because the observed reduction of membrane-associated calcium is apparently not mediated by Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase in this case, other aspects of the calcium regulating system of ameloblasts are apparently targeted by colchicine.


2008 ◽  
Vol 389 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhe Lu ◽  
Petros Papagerakis ◽  
Yasuo Yamakoshi ◽  
Jan C.-C. Hu ◽  
John D. Bartlett ◽  
...  

Abstract Two proteases are secreted into the enamel matrix of developing teeth. The early protease is enamelysin (MMP-20). The late protease is kallikrein 4 (KLK4). Mutations in MMP20 and KLK4 both cause autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta, a condition featuring soft, porous enamel containing residual protein. MMP-20 is secreted along with enamel proteins by secretory-stage ameloblasts. Enamel protein-cleavage products accumulate in the space between the crystal ribbons, helping to support them. MMP-20 steadily cleaves accumulated enamel proteins, so their concentration decreases with depth. KLK4 is secreted by transition- and maturation-stage ameloblasts. KLK4 aggressively degrades the retained organic matrix following the termination of enamel protein secretion. The principle functions of MMP-20 and KLK4 in dental enamel formation are to facilitate the orderly replacement of organic matrix with mineral, generating an enamel layer that is harder, less porous, and unstained by retained enamel proteins.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 2075-2083 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E. Arias ◽  
C.S. Velez-Granell ◽  
G. Mayer ◽  
M. Bendayan

Many of the mechanisms that control insulin processing and packaging by interaction with different elements along the secretory pathway remain poorly understood. We have investigated the possibility that Cpn60, a member of the heat shock protein family, may be present in rat insulin-secreting cells, participating in the proinsulin-insulin maturation process. Immunofluorescence and high resolution immunocytochemical studies revealed the presence of the Cpn60 protein all along the insulin secretory pathway, being particularly abundant over the proinsulin-containing immature secretory granules. Double-labeling experiments showed associations between Cpn60 and proinsulin, as well as between Cpn60 and PC1 convertase, with a preferential binding to proinsulin. These findings paralleled those of coimmunoprecipitation studies showing the Cpn60 chaperone and the mature form of the PC1 convertase in proinsulin immunoprecipitates, as well as the PC1 in Cpn60 immunoprecipitates from total islet cell extracts. In vitro binding of Cpn60 to proinsulin, insulin and glucagon was also documented. Cpn60, significantly abundant in proinsulin-containing secretory granules where conversion of proinsulin to insulin takes place, and the colocalization of the chaperone with proinsulin and PC1 convertase suggest that the Cpn60 protein may play a role directing precise molecular interactions during insulin processing and/or packaging.


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