Comparative analysis of genetic signatures in amelogenesis and dentinogenesis related genes in vertebrates

• Grant number: 13/21277-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Roberto Peres Line
• Grantee: Camila da Silva Menezes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The masticatory system is one of the most complex parts of the human body. The improvement of this system occurred gradually during the evolution of vertebrates by approximately 450 million years. Changes in the shape and number of teeth were crucial factors that contributed to the development of chewing, considering that the fit between the jaws during mastication is regulated mainly by the cusps dental occlusal contacts. Enamel and dentin are the main tissues that form the teeth. While the microscopic characteristics of the dentin are highly conserved in vertebrates, tooth enamel exhibits a wide range of microstructural variations. Thus, the aim of this project is to compare the variation of characteristics associated with the efficiency of transcription and translation and protein structural characteristics of genes related to the formation of enamel and dentin in vertebrates.