Project Summary: Proper mineralization of dental enamel protects against bacterial attack that causes tooth decay (caries). The ameloblasts cells are responsible for producing and secreting an abundance of proteins (laying a foundation for enamel growth) as well as engaging in active mineral transport (calcifying the enamel). These functions are stage dependent with amelogenesis being divided into the secretory (protein synthesis) and maturation stage (mineralization). However, the mechanisms providing metabolic support for these processes and how mitochondrial dysfunction might alter them is poorly understood. Mitochondria are organelles within the cells that convert nutrients into energy via the production of ATP, and deficiency in mitochondrial function results in human diseases. Mitochondria play an important role in enamel as evidenced by defects in mitochondrial DNA causing abnormal enamel development. Therefore, the goal in this competing renewal proposal is to investigate the interplay between mitochondrial function and enamel formation during environmental insults and determine whether this is altered in patients with genetic disorders that effect mitochondrial function. We will specifically address this in the context of Down syndrome (DS), or Trisomy 21, and during dental fluorosis, a process in which exposure to excess of fluoride during development weakens tooth enamel. DS patients present with enamel defects including hypocalcification and hypoplasia, both caused by developmental defects in enamel formation. Mitochondrial dysfunction is widely reported in DS. The overarching hypothesis of this proposal is that altered mitochondrial function in DS ameloblasts alters enamel crystal formation and impacts sensitivity to fluorosis. In strong support, our preliminary data show that Dp- 16 mice (an established mouse model of DS) have mechanically weak and morphologically abnormal enamel. Moreover, overexpression of RCAN1 (a gene associated with DS pathophysiology that is expressed in ameloblasts) in enamel cell lines, significantly impaired mitochondrial function. We have also reported that fluoride exposure of enamel cells significantly affected the biosynthesis of the proteins of the electron transport chain (ETC) responsible for maintaining ATP production, but not in other cells tested, suggesting unique sensitivity of enamel cells to fluoride, possibly associated with higher ROS levels. In the proposed studies we will use DS mouse models (Dp16 mice, Rcan1-KO mice, Dp16 x Rcan1-KO mice) to address the role of mitochondria in the ameloblasts of these mice. We will also use recently developed reporter mice expressing fluorescently labelled secretory and maturation stage ameloblasts to induce fluoride and investigate mitochondrial defects using single cell RNASeq and bulk RNAseq to compare ameloblasts with other tissues. To address if ameloblasts of DS models are more sensitive to fluoride, we will treat the cells with fluoride and analyze mitochondrial function.

Project narrative Mitochondria provide energy for cell function. Environmental insults like fluorosis or genetic diseases like Down syndrome (DS) affect mitochondria but how they affect the mitochondria of ameloblasts causing enamel defects is poorly understood. We will address this in DS mouse models and in newly developed reporter mice segregating enamel developmental stages treated with fluoride.