Regulation of phosphorylation of DPP and DMP1 may provide a means of
fine-tuning biomineralization processes and their related signaling events. Together
with the established literature, the recent studies from our group confirm that actual
phosphorylation machinery is present in cells which do not normally mineralize their
matrix, and is not restricted to those cells classically associated with the generation of
mineral networks. Establishing how, this regulation over mineralization is achieved will
constitute a fruitful area for further investigation. In particular, further experiments are
necessary to characterize site-specific phosphorylation events. It will also be of interest
to compare the levels and specificity of protein phosphorylation in different cell types,
as well as whether these specific phosphorylation events then provide points of control
over DPP and DMP1-mediated signaling. Uncovering difference in post-translational
modification between cells that mineralize their matrix compared to cells that do not
mineralize their matrix is also expected to provide critical information about the
uniqueness of cell processes designed for mineralized tissues. These studies would not
only provide valuable information on the etiology of phosphorylation in aberrant
mineralization events, but also broaden basic knowledge of how cells regulate their
cellular processes.
Keywords: DPP, DMP1, phosphorylation, cell signaling processes, mineralization.
