GENES IN TEETH

描述：（改编自申请人的摘要）牙列是一种 分节器官，其进化历史和形态强烈 类似于其他节段系统，如脊柱或肢体。 然而，牙齿使用不同的基因，也许不同的机制， 来达到这个目的。 这是一项努力，有四个相关的组成部分， 的基因鉴定、表达、功能和表征， 同源异型盒发育基因 在具体目标1中， 将分离来自小鼠牙胚cDNA的发育基因， 筛选以确定调控基因，特别是同源框的成员 基因家族和相关基因，在牙齿中特异性表达 或仅在门牙或臼齿中。 这个家庭被认为参与了 牙齿发育 妊娠中期切牙和磨牙cDNA文库将 也可以做。 在特异性目的2中，Dlx-5的表达图谱中， 类同源异型盒基因在发育中的小鼠牙齿，并密切 牙齿中表达的相关发育基因，将被表征 通过反义探针与发育中的牙胚的原位杂交 寻找这些基因的定时表达模式， 在牙齿和牙齿之间。具体目标3建议探索 Dlx-5相对于其表达图的功能。 Dlx-5表达将 通过将体外培养的胚胎牙齿暴露于 基因的反义RNA。 具体目标4建议克隆和测序 Dlx-5鉴定其结构和染色体图谱定位。 如果 表达和功能研究证实了其在牙齿中的重要性 在发育过程中，Dlx- 5的基因间区和调控区将被 测序，并确定了密切相关的基因。 的系统方法 在本申请中概述的牙齿形态发生学是重要的 因为组合基因表达可能是这一过程的关键 过程

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from Applicant's Abstract) The dentition is a segmented organ whose evolutionary history and morphology strongly resemble other segmental systems like the vertebral column or limb. However, teeth use different genes, and perhaps different mechanisms, to attain that end. This is an effort, with four related components, of gene identification, expression, function and characterization for the homeobox developmental genes. In Specific Aim 1, classes of developmental genes from mouse tooth germ cDNA will be isolated and screened to identify regulatory genes, especially members of the homeobox gene family and related genes, that are expressed specifically in teeth or only in incisors or molars. This family is known to be involved in dental development. Mid-gestation incisor and molar cDNA libraries will also be made. In Specific Aim 2 expression maps of Dlx-5, a distal-less class homeobox gene identified in developing mouse teeth, and closely related developmental genes expressed in teeth, will be characterized by in situ hybridization of antisense probes to developing tooth germs across gestation, looking for timed expression patterns of these genes within and between teeth. Specific Aim 3 proposes to explore the function of Dlx-5 relative to its expression map. Dlx-5 expression will be inactivated by exposing embryonic teeth cultured in vitro to antisense RNA to the gene. Specific Aim 4 proposes to clone and sequence Dlx-5 to identify its structure and chromosomal map location. If expression and function studies confirm its importance in tooth development, the intergenic and regulatory regions of Dlx- 5 will be sequenced, and closely linked genes identified. The systematic approach to dental morphogenetics outlined in this application is important because combinatorial gene expression is probably the key to this process.