Browsing by Author "Ainetdin, Aydil"

Research of RNF43, which is part of the WNT signaling pathway, has been done primarily in relation to cancer research, but mutations in this gene have recently been detected in some families with severe tooth agenesis. It has been proven that WNT signaling has an important role in regulation of tooth development, but RNF43 has earlier not been investigated in a dental context. Mouse and human genome are very homologous and the tooth development is remarkably similar. In this research with RNAScope, a specific in situ mRNA detection method, we show that Rnf43, as well as the homologous gene Znrf3, are expressed in the molar tooth germs and continual dental lamina of E12.5-E16.5 (E=embryonic day) mice embryos. We found out that Rnf43 is expressed in the epithelial parts and Znrf3 both in the epithelium and the mesenchyme of the developing tooth in every developmental stage from placode to early bell. This evidence supports the hypothesis that Rnf43 and Znrf3 have a role in murine tooth development, that these genes are expressed at every developmentally important stage of murine tooth development and also that these genes could be involved in tooth agenesis.