Electrophoretic characterization of soluble proteins from dental tissues (polyphyodonts and diphyodonts species)

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Abstract
The developmental processes related to odontogenesis are similar in all vertebrates and they occur during embryogenesis. The dental papilla can exercises directive morphogenetic role on epithelia of different phylogenetic origin. In our laboratory we have previously shown that cultured heterologous tissue recombinations between adult lizards dental papillae and quail epithelia were capable of producing odontogenesis and amelogenesis. Employing sodium dodecyl‐sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) according to Laemmli ('70, Nature, 227:680–685.) and two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE) (O'Farrell, '75, J. Biol. Chem., 250:4007–4021.), we have examined the distribution of soluble proteins with respect to isoelectric point and molecular weight of dental papillae isolated from tooth germs at bell stage of adult lizard Liolaemus tenuis tenuis (polyphyodont species) and dog fetuses Canis familiaris (diphyodont species). A comparison was also made with dental pulps from adult dogs. Some dental papillae from lizard tooth at bell stage were recombined with quail ectoderm and cultured in explant for 8 days. Furthermore, the histological analysis of dental papillae from lizard and dog fetus showed that dental papillae from both species contain preodontoblast cells, scarce extracellular matrix, and some blood vessels. Dental pulp from adult dogs is composed of odontoblast and fibroblast cells, extracellular matrix, collagen, blood vessels, etc. The control heterologous recombinants after the culture period differentiated chimeric tooth structures, showing that the dental papillae were capable of producing developmental instructions. The electrophoretic study of the supernatants showed differences and similarities. Under SDS‐PAGE the presence of one band of an approximate molecular weight of 49.000 daltons was disclosed, which seems to be unique to dental papilla from adult lizards and dog fetuses. Under 2‐D PAGE protein patterns from adult lizard and dog fetuses disclosed also two protein spots with an approximate molecular weight of 49.000 daltons and isoelectric point of pH ranges between 6 and 7.5. Apparently these spots are unique to both patterns and would have some significance in odontogenesis.