Cloning Of L Type Calcium Channel α_1D Subunit Specific Gene From Human Odontoblast-like Cells

Dentin is the principal part of a tooth, unlike bone, under physiological condition, no absorption and reconstruction but mineralization course exists in dentin. Dentin formation is a consecutive process in whole life of a tooth and odontoblast cells are responsible for it through secretion and mineralization of dentin matrix. Thus, taking odontoblast cells as research target would help to better understand the mechanisms of dentinogenosis and to some extent provide valuable information in the formation of human mineralized tissues.Odontoblast cells, closely neighbor dentin, form a monolayer lining the periphery of dental pulp, and stretch cell processes into dentinal tubules. Odontoblasts are derived from embryonic connective cells that are called ectomesenchymal cells because of their well-established origin from the neural crest. Odontoblasts play a key role during the formation of dentin owing to their abilities of secreting and synthesizing the all the matrix constituents of the dentin. In addition, the odontoblasts seem to be instrumental in mineral formation. The essential question is how the Ca²⁺ ions are transported to the mineralization front, and how this transportation is regulated. Earlier evidence indicates that it is important of the transcellular route of Ca²⁺ transport during dentinogenesis. If this is the case, a set of...