Figure 1
From: Globoside accelerates the differentiation of dental epithelial cells into ameloblasts
The globoside synthesis and the expression of Gb4 in developing mouse molars. (a) Glycosphingolipids are synthesized by the sequential action of glycotransferases that are initiated from the glycosylation of ceramide followed by the synthesis of lactosylceramide, a common precursor of most glycosphingolipids, including Gb4. By the successive addition of sialic acid residues onto via the sialyltransferases Sial-T1 and Sial-T2, the GM3 and GD3 gangliosides are synthesized, which are also important in ameloblast differentiation. (b) An immunofluorescence analysis showed the localization of Gb4 in the lower first molars obtained on (b1) embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5), (b2) E18.5, and (b3) postnatal day 3 (P3). (b4) An enlarged image of the dotted box in (b3). (b5) A positive control for AMBN staining in the lower first molar on P3. (b6, b7) Gb4 staining of incisors from P1 and P3 (b8, b9) mice with anti-Gb4 (green) antibodies. Nuclear staining was performed with DAPI dye (blue). Bar=100 μm. am, ameloblast; DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; de, dental epithelium; Gb4, globoside; LacCer, lactosylceramide; od, odontoblast; qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; st, stratum intermedium.
