Deficiency of G protein-coupled receptor Gpr111/Adgrf2 causes enamel hypomineralization in mice by alteration of the expression of kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (Klk4) during pH cycling process.

Enamel is formed by the repetitive secretion of a tooth-specific extracellular matrix and its decomposition. Calcification of the enamel matrix via hydroxyapatite (HAP) maturation requires pH cycling to be tightly regulated through the neutralization of protons released during HAP synthesis. We found that Gpr115, which responds to changes in extracellular pH, plays an important role in enamel formation.

GSK3beta inhibitor-induced dental mesenchymal stem cells regulate ameloblast differentiation.

Objectives: Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are extremely important in tooth development and essential for ameloblast differentiation, especially during tooth formation. We aimed to identify the type of mesenchymal cells important in ameloblast differentiation.

Methods: We used two types of cell culture systems with chambers and found that a subset of debtal mesenchimal cells is important for the differentiatiuon of dental spithelial cells into ameloblasts.

The tooth-specific basic helix-loop-helix factor AmeloD promotes differentiation of ameloblasts.

Tissue-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play an important role in cellular differentiation. We recently identified AmeloD as a tooth-specific bHLH transcription factor. However, the role of AmeloD in cellular differentiation has not been investigated.

Connexin 43-Mediated Gap Junction Communication Regulates Ameloblast Differentiation ERK1/2 Phosphorylation.

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is an integral membrane protein that forms gap junction channels. These channels mediate intercellular transport and intracellular signaling to regulate organogenesis. The human disease oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is caused by mutations in Cx43 and is characterized by skeletal, ocular, and dental abnormalities including amelogenesis imperfecta.

Deficiency of Lipin2 Results in Enhanced NF-κB Signaling and Osteoclast Formation in RAW-D Murine Macrophages.

Lipin2 is a phosphatidate phosphatase that plays critical roles in fat homeostasis. Alterations in , which encodes lipin2, cause the autoinflammatory bone disorder Majeed syndrome. Lipin2 limits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages.

Phosphorylation-dependent osterix degradation negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation.

Proteasome inhibitors exert an anabolic effect on bone formation with elevated levels of osteoblast markers. These findings suggest the important role of the proteasomal degradation of osteogenic regulators, while the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we report that the proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and ixazomib markedly increased protein levels of the osteoblastic key transcription factor osterix/Sp7 (Osx).

Lipin-2 degradation elicits a proinflammatory gene signature in macrophages.

Lipin-2 is a phosphatidate phosphatase with key roles in regulating lipid storage and energy homeostasis. LPIN2-genetic deficiency is associated with an autoinflammatory disorder, underscoring its critical role in innate immune signaling; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying protein stability remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Lipin-2 interacts with β-TRCP, a substrate receptor subunit of the SCF E3 ligase, and undergoes ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation.

Matrix isolation with an ion transfer device for interference-free simultaneous spectrophotometric determinations of hexavalent and trivalent chromium in a flow-based system.

Chromium speciation by spectrophotometric determination of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) with diphenylcarbazide (DPC) has several problems. These include: (1) the inability to directly detect trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) with DPC, (2) positive interference in Cr(VI) determination by other metal cations and (3) negative interference by any reducing agent present in the sample. These are addressed with an ion transfer device (ITD) in a flow injection analysis system.