The biosynthesis of dentin phosphophoryns by rat incisor odontoblasts in organ culture

Anin vitro system consisting of rat incisor fragments was used to study the process of dentinogenesis. In order to establish the usefulness of the organ culture, the biosynthesis and deposition of the major noncollagenous components of dentin, the phosphophoryns, were followed for specific lengths of time in culture. Three criteria were satisfied: (1) the synthesis of proteins which appeared to be chemically identical to the native proteins of dentin, (2) the accumulation of the phosphophoryns within the matrix or time, and (3) the association of the secreted proteins with the mineral phase of dentin