Dentin sialoprotein and dentin phosphoprotein have distinct roles in dentin mineralization

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), a major non-collagenous matrix protein of odontoblasts, is proteolytically cleaved into dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). Our previous studies revealed that DSPP null mice display a phenotype similar to human autosomal dominant dentinogenesis imperfecta, in which teeth have widened predentin and irregular dentin mineralization resulting in sporadic unmineralized areas in dentin and frequent pulp exposure. Earlier in vitro studies suggested that DPP, but not DSP, plays a significant role in initiation and maturation of dentin mineralization. However, the precise in vivo roles of DSP and DPP are far from clear. Here we report the generation of DPPcKO mice, in which only DSP is expressed in a DSPP null background, resulting in a conditional DPP knockout. DPPcKO teeth show a partial rescue of the DSPP null phenotype with the restored predentin width, an absence of irregular unmineralized areas in dentin, and less frequent pulp exposure. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis of DPPcKO molars further confirmed this partial rescue with a significant recovery in the dentin volume, but not in the dentin mineral density. These results indicate distinct roles of DSP and DPP in dentin mineralization, with DSP regulating initiation of dentin mineralization, and DPP being involved in the maturation of mineralized dentin.     

Dentin sialophosphoprotein is processed by MMP-2 and MMP-20 in vitro and in vivo

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is a major secretory product of odontoblasts and is critical for proper tooth dentin formation. During dentinogenesis, DSPP is proteolytically cleaved into smaller subunits. These cleavages are proposed activation steps, and failure to make these cleavages is a potential cause of developmental tooth defects. We tested the hypothesis that dentin-resident matrix metalloproteinases catalyze the cleavages that process DSPP. We defined the exact DSPP cleavages that are catalyzed by proteases during crown formation by isolating DSPP-derived proteins from developing porcine molars and characterizing their N-terminal sequences and apparent size on SDS-PAGE and Western blots. The in vivo DSPP cleavage sites were on the N-terminal sides of Thr(200), Ser(330), Val(353), Leu(360), Ile(362), Ser(377), Ser(408), and Asp(458). The initial DSPP cleavage is between dentin glycoprotein (DGP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP), generating dentin sialoprotein (DSP)/DGP and DPP. Gelatin and casein zymograms identified MMP-2, MMP-20, and KLK4 in the dentin extracts. MMP-2 and MMP-20 were purified from over 150 g of porcine dentin powder and incubated with DSP-DGP and DPP. These enzymes show no activity in further cleaving DPP. MMP-20 cleaves DSP-DGP to generate DSP and DGP. MMP-20 also cleaves DSP at multiple sites, releasing N-terminal DSP cleavage products ranging in size from 25 to 38 kDa. MMP-2 makes multiple cleavages near the DSP C terminus, releasing larger forms of DGP, or "extended DGPs." Exact correspondence between DSPP cleavage sites that occur in vivo and those generated in vitro demonstrates that MMP-2 and MMP-20 process DSPP into smaller subunits in the dentin matrix during odontogenesis.     

Sequential expression of matrix protein genes in developing rat teeth.

Tooth organogenesis is dependent on reciprocal and sequential epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and is marked by the appearance of phenotypic matrix macromolecules in both dentin and enamel. The organic matrix of enamel is composed of amelogenins, ameloblastin/amelin, enamelins and tuftelin. Dentin is mainly composed of type I collagen, but its specificity arises from the nature of the non-collagenous proteins (NCPs) involved in mineralization, phosphophoryn (DPP), dentin sialoprotein (DSP), osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein and dentin matrix protein-1 (Dmp1). In this paper, we studied the pattern of expression of four mineralizing protein genes (type I collagen, amelogenin, DSPP and osteocalcin) during the development of rat teeth by in situ hybridization on serial sections. For this purpose, we used an easy and rapid procedure to prepare highly-specific labeled single-stranded DNA probes using asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our results show that type I collagen is primarily expressed in polarizing odontoblasts, followed by the osteocalcin gene expression in the same polarized cells. Concomitantly, polarized ameloblasts start to accumulate amelogenin mRNAs and transiently express the DSPP gene. This latter expression switches over to odontoblasts whereas mineralization occurs. At the same time, osteocalcin gene expression decreases in secretory odontoblasts. Osteocalcin may thus act as an inhibitor of mineralization whereas DSP/DPP would be involved in more advanced steps of mineralization. Amelogenin and type I collagen gene expression increases during dentin mineralization. Their expression is spatially and temporally controlled, in relation with the biological role of their cognate proteins in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and mineralization.     

Tissue-specific expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and its polymorphisms in mouse tissues

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) consists of dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). DSPP is highly expressed in mineralized tissues. However, recent studies have shown that DSPP is also expressed in several active metabolic ductal epithelial tissues and exists in a variety of sequences. We have investigated DSPP expression in various mouse tissues using RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses. To identify DSPP gene polymorphisms, we screened a mouse tooth cDNA library as well as isolated and characterized DSPP variations. Our results show that DSPP is predominantly expressed in teeth and moderately in bone tissues. We also have characterized a full-length DSPP cDNA clone with an open-reading frame of 940 codons and this polyadenylation signal. Compared to previously reported mouse DSPP cDNAs, 13 sequence variations were identified, including 8 non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms and an in-frame indel (8 amino acids) at DPP domain of the mouse DSPP. These 8 amino acids are rich in aspartic acid and serine residues. Northern blot assay showed a prominent band at 4.4 kb. RT-PCR demonstrated that this mouse DSPP gene was dominantly expressed in teeth. The predicted secondary structure of DPP domain of this DSPP showed differences from the previously published mouse DPPs, implying that they play different roles during tooth development and formation.     

Dentin glycoprotein: the protein in the middle of the dentin sialophosphoprotein chimera

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is a major secretory product of odontoblasts and is critical for proper dentin formation. DSPP is believed to be processed into only two structural/functional domains: dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). Here we report the isolation and characterization of a third domain of DSPP, designated dentin glycoprotein (DGP). DGP was isolated from a guanidine/EDTA extract of porcine tooth dentin by ion exchange, hydroxyapatite affinity, size exclusion, and RP-HPL chromatography. Endoproteinase lysine C digestion products of DGP were characterized by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry. The porcine DGP backbone is the 81-amino acid segment of DSPP (Ser392 to Gly472) between the DSP and DPP domains. DGP has four phosphorylated serine residues (Ser453, Ser455, Ser457, and Ser462) and one glycosylated asparagine (Asn397). There are no other post-translational modifications. DGP is a stains-all positive protein with an apparent molecular mass on SDS-PAGE of 19 kDa, which is reduced by glycopeptidase A digestion to 16 kDa. A variety of glycans can be linked to Asn397. All are complex biantennary structures with a common N-linked pentasaccharide core (mannose3-N-acetylglucosamine2), most with a fucosyl residue on the innermost N-acetylglucosamine. The alpha1-3 and alpha1-6 arms are always galactose beta1-4 N-acetylglucosamine beta1-2 mannose, and either or both arms can be unsialidated or monosialidated. The calculated monoisotopic molecular masses of the different glycosylated forms of the DGP phosphoprotein are: unsialidated 10,523 and 10,670, monosialidated 10,815 and 10,961, and disialidated 11,106, and 11,252 Da, with the disialidated forms being the most abundant.     

Transgenic Expression of Dentin Phosphoprotein Inhibits Skeletal Development

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is proteolytically processed into an NH₂-terminal fragment called dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and a COOH-terminal fragment known as dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). These two fragments are believed to perform distinct roles in formation of bone and dentin. To investigate the functions of DPP in skeletal development, we generated transgenic mice to overexpress hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged DPP under the control of a 3.6 kb type I collagen (Col1a1) promoter (designated as Col1a1-HA-DPP). The Col1a1-HA-DPP transgenic mice were significantly smaller by weight, had smaller skeletons and shorter long bones than their wild type littermates, as demonstrated by X-ray radiography. They displayed reduced trabecular bone formation and narrower zones of proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plates of the long bones. Histological analyses showed that the transgenic mice had reduced cell proliferation in the proliferating zone, but lacked obvious defects in the chondrocyte differentiation. In addition, the transgenic mice with a high level of transgene expression developed spontaneous long bone fractures. In conclusion, overexpressing DPP inhibited skeletal development, suggesting that the balanced actions between the NH₂- and COOH-terminal fragments of DSPP may be required for normal skeletal development.Key words: Dentin sialophosphoprotein, dentin phosphoprotein, development, bone, transgenic mice, growth plate     

Regulation of the Cell Type-specific dentin sialophosphoprotein gene expression in mouse odontoblasts by a novel transcription repressor and an activator CCAAT-binding factor

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is an extracellular matrix protein that is cleaved into dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) with a highly restricted expression pattern in tooth and bone. Mutations of the DSPP gene are associated with dentin genetic diseases. Regulation of tissue-specific DSPP expression has not been described. To define the molecular basis of this cell-specific expression, we characterized the promoter responsible for the cell-specific expression of the DSPP gene in odontoblasts. Within this region, DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays delineated one element that contains an inverted CCAAT-binding factor site and a protein-DNA binding site using nuclear extracts from odontoblasts. A series of competitive electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses showed that the protein-DNA binding core sequence, ACCCCCA, is a novel site sufficient for protein binding. These two protein-DNA binding sequences are conserved at the same proximal position in the mouse, rat, and human DSPP gene promoters and are ubiquitously present in the promoters of other tooth/bone genes. Mutations of the CCAAT-binding factor binding site resulted in a 5-fold decrease in promoter activity, whereas abolishment of the novel protein-DNA binding site increased promoter activity by about 4.6-fold. In contrast to DSPP, expression levels of the novel protein were significantly reduced during odontoblastic differentiation and dentin mineralization. The novel protein was shown to have a molecular mass of 72 kDa. This study shows that expression of the cell type-specific DSPP gene is mediated by the combination of inhibitory and activating mechanisms.     

Dentin Matrix Protein 1 and Dentin Sialophosphoprotein in Human Sound and Carious Teeth: An Immunohistochemical and Colorimetric Assay

Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) are extracellular matrix proteins produced by odontoblasts involved in the dentin mineralization. The aim this study was to compare the distribution of DMP1 and DSPP in human sound dentin vs human sclerotic dentin. Sixteen sound and sixteen carious human molars were selected, fixed in paraformaldehyde and processed for immunohistochemical detection of DMP1 and DSPP by means of light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy (FEI-SEM). Specimens were submitted to a pre-embedding or a post-embedding immunolabeling technique using primary antibodies anti DMP1 and anti-DSPP and gold-conjugated secondary antibodies. Other samples were processed for the detection of DMP1 and DSPP levels. Dentin from these samples was mechanically fractured to powder, then a protein extraction and a protein level detection assay were performed. DMP1 and DSPP were more abundant in carious than in sound samples. Immunohistochemical analyses in sclerotic dentin disclosed a high expression of DMP1 and DSPP inside the tubules, suggesting an active biomineralization of dentin by odontoblasts. Furthermore, the detection of small amounts of these proteins inside the tubules far from the carious lesion, as shown in the present study, is consistent with the hypothesis of a preventive defense of all dentin after a noxious stimulus has undermined the tooth.Key words: sclerotic dentin, dentin matrix protein, dentin sialophosphoprotein, immunohistochemistry     

N-terminal Dentin Sialoprotein fragment induces type I collagen production and upregulates dentinogenesis marker expression in osteoblasts

Bone and dentin are mineralized extracellular matrices produced by osteoblasts and odontoblasts, respectively, and their major organic portion is type I collagen. Dentinogenesis Imperfecta (DGI) is one of the most common clinically- and genetically-based disturbances of dentin formation, causing irreversible dentin defects. Among several types of DGI, patients with DGI type II exhibit opalescent dentin with partial or complete pulp obliteration. It has been previously reported that the non-sense mutation (c.133C>T) in Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was identified in DGI type II patients at glutamine residue 45, resulting in the premature stop codon (p.Q45X). DSPP is known to be synthesized as a single gene product and further processed at Gly⁴⁶²-Asp⁴⁶³, resulting in the production of Dentin Sialoprotein (DSP) and Dentin Phosphoprotein (DPP). We hypothesized that the shorter form (Q45X) of N-terminal Dentin Sialoprotein (N-DSP) may cause over-production of type I collagen protein as obliterated pulp is occupied by dentin. To test this hypothesis, we generated mouse recombinant Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST)-N-DSP fusion protein, and the effect of GST-N-DSP was investigated in calvarial bone explant culture and MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic culture systems. Here we show that a significant increase in calvarial bone formation is observed by GST-N-DSP. GST-N-DSP accelerates MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell growth and proliferation and subsequent osteoblast differentiation by inducing the expression of certain osteogenic markers such as type I collagen, Runx2, Osterix and ATF4. Interestingly, GST-N-DSP significantly enhances dentinogenesis marker gene expression including Dspp and Dmp1 gene expression in non-odontogenic MC3T3-E1 cells. To rule out any artificial effect of GST-tag, we also used the synthetic peptide of N-DSP and confirmed the results of N-DSP peptide were essentially similar to those of GST-N-DSP. Taken together, our data suggest that N-DSP promotes bone formation by accelerating osteoblast cell proliferation and subsequent osteoblast differentiation accompanied by marked up-regulation of the dentin matrix markers, such as Dspp and Dmp1 genes.     

Primary structure and phosphorylation of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin phosphophoryn (DPP) uniquely determine their role in biomineralization

The SIBLING (small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins) family is the major group of noncollagenous proteins in bone and dentin. These extremely acidic and highly phosphorylated extracellular proteins play critical roles in the formation of collagenous mineralized tissues. Whereas the lack of individual SIBLINGs causes significant mineralization defects in vivo, none of them led to a complete cessation of mineralization suggesting that these proteins have overlapping functions. To assess whether different SIBLINGs regulate biomineralization in a similar manner and how phosphorylation impacts their activity, we studied the effects of two SIBLINGs, dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin phosphophoryn (DPP), on mineral morphology and organization in vitro. Our results demonstrate distinct differences in the effects of these proteins on mineralization. We show that phosphorylation has a profound effect on the regulation of mineralization by both proteins. Specifically, both phosphorylated proteins facilitated organized mineralization of collagen fibrils and phosphorylated DMP1-induced formation of organized mineral bundles in the absence of collagen. In summary, these results indicate that the primary structure and phosphorylation uniquely determine functions of individual SIBLINGs in regulation of mineral morphology and organization.     

Impact of duplicate gene copies on phylogenetic analysis and divergence time estimates in butterflies

Background

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is the largest member of the SIBLING family and is the most abundant noncollagenous protein in dentin. DSPP is also expressed in non-mineralized tissues including metabolically active ductal epithelia and some cancers. Its function, however, is poorly defined. The carboxy-terminal fragment, dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) is encoded predominantly by a large repetitive domain that requires separate cloning/sequencing reactions and is, therefore, often incomplete in genomic databases. Comparison of DPP sequences from at least one member of each major branch in the mammalian evolutionary tree (including some "toothless" mammals) as well as one reptile and bird may help delineate its possible functions in both dentin and ductal epithelia.

Results

The BMP1-cleavage and translation-termination domains were sufficiently conserved to permit amplification/cloning/sequencing of most species' DPP. While the integrin-binding domain, RGD, was present in about half of species, only vestigial remnants of this tripeptide were identified in the others. The number of tandem repeats of the nominal SerSerAsp phosphorylation motif in toothed mammals (including baleen whale and platypus which lack teeth as adults), ranged from ~75 (elephant) to >230 (human). These repeats were not perfect, however, and patterns of intervening sequences highlight the rapidity of changes among even closely related species. Two toothless anteater species have evolved different sets of nonsense mutations shortly after their BMP1 motifs suggesting that while cleavage may be important for DSPP processing in other tissues, the DPP domain itself may be required only in dentin. The lizard DSPP had an intact BMP1 site, a remnant RGD motif, as well as a distinctly different Ser/Asp-rich domain compared to mammals.

Conclusions

The DPP domain of DSPP was found to change dramatically within mammals and was lost in two truly toothless animals. The defining aspect of DPP, the long repeating phosphorylation domain, apparently undergoes frequent slip replication and recombination events that rapidly change specific patterns but not its overall biochemical character in toothed animals. Species may have to co-evolve protein processing mechanisms, however, to handle increased lengths of DSP repeats. While the RGD domain is lost in many species, some evolutionary pressure to maintain integrin binding can be observed.     

The Rescue of Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (DMP1)-deficient Tooth Defects by the Transgenic Expression of Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) Indicates That DSPP Is a Downstream Effector Molecule of DMP1 in Dentinogenesis

Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) are essential for the formation of dentin. Previous in vitro studies have indicated that DMP1 might regulate the expression of DSPP during dentinogenesis. To examine whether DMP1 controls dentinogenesis through the regulation of DSPP in vivo, we cross-bred transgenic mice expressing normal DSPP driven by a 3.6-kb rat Col1a1 promoter with Dmp1 KO mice to generate mice expressing the DSPP transgene in the Dmp1 KO genetic background (referred to as “Dmp1 KO/DSPP Tg mice”). We used morphological, histological, and biochemical techniques to characterize the dentin and alveolar bone of Dmp1 KO/DSPP Tg mice compared with Dmp1 KO and wild-type mice. Our analyses showed that the expression of endogenous DSPP was remarkably reduced in the Dmp1 KO mice. Furthermore, the transgenic expression of DSPP rescued the tooth and alveolar bone defects of the Dmp1 KO mice. In addition, our in vitro analyses showed that DMP1 and its 57-kDa C-terminal fragment significantly up-regulated the Dspp promoter activities in a mesenchymal cell line. In contrast, the expression of DMP1 was not altered in the Dspp KO mice. These results provide strong evidence that DSPP is a downstream effector molecule that mediates the roles of DMP1 in dentinogenesis.     

A novel splice acceptor mutation in the DSPP gene causing dentinogenesis imperfecta type II

The dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene (4q21.3) encodes two major noncollagenous dentin matrix proteins: dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). Defects in the human gene encoding DSPP cause inherited dentin defects, and these defects can be associated with bilateral progressive high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Clinically, five different patterns of inherited dentin defects are distinguished and are classified as dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) types I, II, and III, and dentin dysplasia types I and II. The genetic basis for this clinical heterogeneity is unknown. Among the 11 members recruited from the studied kindred, five were affected with autosomal dominant DGI type II. The mutation (g.1188CG, IVS2-3CG) lay in the third from the last nucleotide of intron 2 and changed its sequence from CAG to GAG. The mutation was correlated with the affection status and was absent in 104 unaffected individuals (208 alleles) with the same ethnic and geological background. The proband was in the primary dentition stage and presented with multiple pulp exposures. The occlusal surface of his dental enamel was generally abraded, and the dentin was heavily worn and uniformly shaded brown. The dental pulp chambers appeared originally to be within normal limits without any sign of obliteration, but over time (by age 4), the pulp chambers became partially or completely obliterated. The oldest affected member (age 59) showed mild hearing loss at high-frequency (8 kHz). Permanent dentition was severely affected in the adults, who had advanced dental attrition, premature loss of teeth, and extensive dental reconstruction.     

Genetic evidence for key roles of decorin and biglycan in dentin mineralization

Targeted disruption of the dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene in the mice (Dspp^?/?) results in dentin mineralization defects with enlarged predentin phenotype similar to human dentinogenesis imperfecta type III. Using DSPP/biglycan (Dspp^?/?Bgn^?/0) and DSPP/decorin (Dspp^?/?Dcn^?/?) double knockout mice, here we determined that the enlarged predentin layer in Dspp^?/? teeth is rescued in the absence of decorin, but not in the absence of biglycan. However, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis reveals similar hypomineralization of dentin in both Dspp^?/?Bgn^?/0 and Dspp^?/?Dcn^?/? teeth. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis of collagen fibrils in dentin shows subtle differences in the collagen fibril morphology in these genotypes. The reduction of enlarged predentin in Dspp^?/?Dcn^?/? mice suggests that the elevated level of decorin in Dspp^?/? predentin interferes with the mineralization process at the dentin mineralization front. On the other hand, the lack of DSPP and biglycan leads to the increased number of calcospherites in Dspp^?/?Bgn^?/0 predentin, suggesting that a failure in coalescence of calcospherites was augmented in Dspp^?/?Bgn^?/0 teeth as compared to Dspp^?/? teeth. These findings indicate that normal expression of small leucine rich proteoglycans, such as biglycan and decorin, plays an important role in the highly orchestrated process of dentin mineralization.