DNA Methylation: A Frontier in Tooth Organogenesis and Developmental Dental Defects

Title:DNA Methylation: A Frontier in Tooth Organogenesis and Developmental Dental Defects

Volume: 13 Issue: 2

Author(s): Mian Wan, Hongyu Li, Yachuan Zhou, Wei Du, Xin Xu, Ling Ye, Xuedong Zhou and Liwei Zheng*

Affiliation:

• State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041,China

Keywords: Epigenetics, DNA methylation, odontogenesis, developmental dental defects, DNA demethylation, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation.

Abstract: Background: Tooth development relies on interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues, which are controlled by sophisticated networks of conserved signaling. The signaling networks regulating odontogenesis have been well characterized, but the epigenetic mechanisms underlying remain to be elucidated.

Objective: In this review, we describe current researches regarding the control of various genes expression by DNA methylation during odontogenesis, summarize genomic mapping of DNA methylation in various stages of tooth formation and diverse dental tissues by high-throughput approaches, and highlight the roles of DNA methylation in odontogenesis.

Results: Researches on mammals have revealed that the genomic methylation, which occurs on cytosine residues, regulates certain genes transcription. Consequently, DNA methylation plays a crucial role in spatiotemporal organization of signaling pathways, and is essential for organogenesis. Recently, mounting evidence proves that methylation of genomes contributes to the spatiotemporal gene dynamics during odontogenesis. With emerging new technologies of mapping cytosine modifications in global genome, investigators are seeking an overall view of DNA methylome dynamics that characterize genetic information to manifest across incredibly varied tooth development stages, dental tissues, and developmental dental defects.

Cite this article as:

Wan Mian , Li Hongyu , Zhou Yachuan , Du Wei , Xu Xin, Ye Ling , Zhou Xuedong and Zheng Liwei *, DNA Methylation: A Frontier in Tooth Organogenesis and Developmental Dental Defects, Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2018; 13 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574888X13666171206124940