Individual Predoctoral Dental Scientist Fellowship

University Of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr San Ant, San Antonio TX

Investigators

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the regulation controlling the expression of DMP-1 during odontogenesis. The regulational investigation of DMP-1 will be carried out on immortalized odontoblasts and ameloblasts. The potential function of the DMP-1 protein will be tested using transgenic mice over expressing DMP-1. Our Hypothesis is that the tissue and developmental expression of DMP-1 is regulated through discrete interactions of transcription factors with their cognate cis-elements and that DMP-1 has an important function in normal tooth mineralization. In order to test this hypothesis, the following specific aims will be met. 1. Determine the conserved cis-elements present in the DMP-1 promoter that potentially regulate this gene's expression pattern. 2. Determine the region of the DMP-1 promoter that confers the tissue- specific expression of DMP-1 gene during odontogenesis in vitro using immortalized cell lines and transgenic mice.