Amelogenin Function — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Guide the growth and spatial organisation of enamel hydroxyapatite crystallites
Amelogenin is the predominant enamel matrix protein during early enamel formation. Its interactions with the mineral phase and its self-assembly help control the growth, morphology and spatial organisation of hydroxyapatite crystallites, making A correct. It does not provide the principal strength of mature enamel, which derives mainly from its highly mineralised crystalline structure, so B is incorrect. Amelogenin is proteolytically processed and largely removed as enamel matures rather than remaining as a permanent scaffold, excluding C. Calcium delivery across ameloblasts is a cellular ion-transport function, not the principal extracellular role of amelogenin, excluding D. Although amelogenin can constrain crystal growth in particular directions, it does not prevent enamel mineral deposition overall, so E is incorrect.
Reference: Shaw WJ, Tarasevich BJ, Buchko GW, Arachchige RMJ, Burton SD. Controls of nature: Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure of the enamel protein amelogenin in solution and on hydroxyapatite. Journal of Structural Biology. 2020;212(3):107630. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32979496/