The overall goal of this proposal is to identify regulatory genes that are involved in the initial inductive events of odontogenesis using the differential display method. Our previous investigations indicate that mandibular epithelium prior to day E12 has odontogenic potential and can organize a dental papillae in NC-derived mesenchymal tissues of the mouse hyoid arch. These results indicate that hyoid mesenchyme has odontogenic potential which is expressed upon interactions with inductive signals from odontogenic epithelium and also suggest that there are genes regulating odontogenesis that are expressed in the mouse mandibular epithelium and but not expressed in the mouse hyoid arch epithelium. Experiments in specific aim #1 of this proposal are designed to identify the odontogenic regulatory genes that are differentially expressed in mandibular and hyoid epithelium. In addition, the current literature raises the possibility that a combination of two growth factors EGF and BMP-4 may be involved in the inductive events in odontogenesis. While the effects of EGF may be predominately in the epithelium, BMP-4, may influence the transcription of a number of genes in the dental mesenchyme. Experiments in the specific aim #2 are designed to examine the causal regulatory roles of each growth factor and the combination of the growth factors roles in the initiation phase of odontogenesis by examining the effects of a) antisense oligomers to these growth factors genes, and b) growth factor agarose-releasing beads on the cascade of events characteristic of the initiation phase of odontogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DE011335-01
Application #
2132592
Study Section
NIDCR Special Grants Review Committee (DSR)
Project Start
1995-03-01
Project End
1997-02-28
Budget Start
1995-03-01
Budget End
1996-02-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Wang, Y H; Rutherford, B; Upholt, W B et al. (1999) Effects of BMP-7 on mouse tooth mesenchyme and chick mandibular mesenchyme. Dev Dyn 216:320-35
Wang, Y H; Kollar, E J; Upholt, W B et al. (1998) EGF does not induce Msx-1 and Msx-2 in dental mesenchyme. Eur J Oral Sci 106 Suppl 1:100-3
Wang, Y H; Upholt, W B; Sharpe, P T et al. (1998) Odontogenic epithelium induces similar molecular responses in chick and mouse mandibular mesenchyme. Dev Dyn 213:386-97