Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a hereditary
disease with abnormal dental enamel formation.
Here we report a Japanese family with X-linked
AI transmitted over at least four generations.
Mutation analysis revealed a novel mutation
(p.P52R) in exon 5 of the amelogenin gene. The
mutation was detected as heterozygous in affected
females and as hemizygous in their affected father.
The affected sisters exhibited vertical ridges on
the enamel surfaces, whereas the affected father
had thin, smooth, yellowish enamel with distinct
widening of inter-dental spaces. To study the
pathological cause underlying the disease in this
family, we synthesized the mutant amelogenin
p.P52R protein and evaluated it in vitro.
Furthermore, we studied differences in the
chemical composition between normal and
affected teeth by x-ray diffraction analysis and xray
fluorescence analysis. We believe that these
results will greatly aid our understanding of the
pathogenesis of X-linked AI.