Sox2+ progenitors in sharks link taste development with the evolution of regenerative teeth from denticles.

ABSTRACT: Teeth and denticles belong to a specialized class of mineralizing epithelial appendages called odontodes. Although homology of oral teeth in jawed vertebrates is well supported, the evolutionary origin of teeth and their relationship with other odontode types is less clear. We compared the cellular and molecular mechanisms directing development of teeth and skin denticles in sharks, where both odontode types are retained. We show that teeth and denticles are deeply homologous developmental modules with equivalent underlying odontode gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Notably, the expression of the epithelial progenitor and stem cell marker sex-determining region Y-related box 2 (sox2) was tooth-specific and this correlates with notable differences in odontode regenerative ability. Whereas sh

SUBMITTER: Martin KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5187730 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature