Tuftelin

Tuftelin is an acidic phosphorylated is_associated_with::glycoprotein found in is_associated_with::tooth enamel. In humans, the Tuftelin protein is encoded by the TUFT1 gene.

Function
This protein is formed for a short time during is_associated_with::amelogenesis. The function of tuftelins is under contention, but it is proposed that it acts to start the mineralization process of enamel during is_associated_with::tooth development.

Other significant proteins in enamel are is_associated_with::amelogenins, is_associated_with::enamelins, and is_associated_with::ameloblastins.

Research
The human encoding is_associated_with::gene for tuftelin (TUFT1) was cloned by Profs. Dany Deutsch and Aharon Palmon from the is_associated_with::Hebrew University-is_associated_with::Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in is_associated_with::Jerusalem.

Interactions
Tuftelin has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::TFIP11.