STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF THE ENAMEL PROTEINS

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心机构，不一定为研究者机构。我们研究活动的主要目标是促进我们对牙釉质形成的基本分子机制的理解。我们假设，这种理解将导致未来的发展仿生策略创造搪瓷类矿物材料。我们专注于三个方面：1。釉质细胞外基质成分的结构与功能。2)釉质蛋白酶MMP-20（釉质溶解素）的功能和作用机制。3)釉蛋白结晶：釉原蛋白。 我们的目标是：（项目#1）在分子水平上鉴定限定蛋白质在溶液中自组装和纳米球基质结构的相互作用的性质，在分子水平上限定体外形成的基于釉原蛋白的基质的超微结构，表征磷灰石和磷酸八钙晶体生长，在不存在和存在非釉原蛋白的情况下，在合成釉原蛋白凝胶基质中的形态和取向。研究釉原蛋白和非釉原蛋白对溶液中磷灰石和八钙晶体生长形态的影响。（项目2）：使用光学波长光谱法（OWLS）、扫描角反射法（SAR）和椭圆偏振法，开发并表征单体状态下的釉原蛋白吸附表面，用于其结晶。（项目#3）：研究重组MMP-20对重组釉质蛋白釉原蛋白、成釉蛋白和釉蛋白的作用。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The major goal of our research activities is to advance our understanding of the fundamental molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of dental enamel. We postulate that such understanding will lead to the future development of biomimetic strategies for the creation of enamel-like mineral materials. We focus on three areas: 1. The structure and function of enamel extracellular matrix components. 2) The function and mechanism of action of enamel proteinase MMP-20 (enamelysin). 3) Crystallization of enamel protein : amelogenin. Our goals are: ( project #1) to identify the nature of the interactions which define protein self-assembly in solution and the nanosphere matrix architecture, at the molecular level, to define at the molecular level the ultrastructural architecture of amelogenin-based matrices formed in vitro, to characterize apatite and octacalcium phosphate crystal growth, morphology and orientation within synthetic amelogenin gel matrices in the absence and presence of the non-amelogenins. To characterize the effects of amelogenin and non-amelogenins on apatite and octacalcium crystal growth morphology in solution. (project # 2) : To develop and characterize surfaces for amelogenin adsorption in a monomeric state, which will be used for its crystallization, using Optical Wavelength Light Spectroscopy (OWLS), Scanning Angle Reflectometry (SAR) and Ellipsometry. (project # 3): To investigate the action of recombinant MMP-20 on recombinant enamel proteins amelogenin, ameloblastin and enamelin.