Science · 1998 · 456 citations · 15 references
DentistryCraniofacial BiologyOral BiologyCraniofacial PatterningDental Pulp BiologyEnamel BiologyBone Morphogenetic Protein SignalingJaw DevelopmentJaw PatterningMandibular DevelopmentOral DevelopmentTooth DevelopmentMandibular Arch AnatomyMandibular Dental ArchMesenchyme FormationOdontogenic Gene RegulationTooth Development Signaling PathwaysTooth Developmental BiologyTooth InitiationTooth Patterning
Mammalian dentitions are highly patterned, with different types of teeth positioned in different regions of the jaws. BMP4 is an early oral epithelial protein signal that directs odontogenic gene expression in mesenchyme cells of the developing mandibular arch. BMP4 was shown to inhibit expression of the homeobox gene Barx-1 and to restrict expression to the proximal, presumptive molar mesenchyme of mouse embryos at embryonic day 10. The inhibition of BMP signaling early in mandible development by the action of exogenous Noggin protein resulted in ectopic Barx-1 expression in the distal, presumptive incisor mesenchyme and a transformation of tooth identity from incisor to molar.
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