Yukiko Nakano, DDS, PhD
Associate Professor
Orofacial Sciences
School of Dentistry

By revealing how genetic mutations, alternative splicing, extracellular matrix proteins, signaling molecules, ion channels, microRNAs, and environmental factors affect craniofacial mineralization, her studies identify key mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for inherited and acquired defects in mineralized tissues.

• SATB1 establishes ameloblast cell polarity and regulates directional amelogenin secretion for enamel formation.
  BMC biology 2019 Zhang Y, Zheng L, Le M, Nakano Y, Chan B, Huang Y, Torbaty PM, Kohwi Y, Marcucio R, Habelitz S, Den Besten PK, Kohwi-Shigematsu T
• Fluoride related changes in behavioral outcomes may relate to increased serotonin.
  Physiology & behavior 2019 Lu F, Zhang Y, Trivedi A, Jiang X, Chandra D, Zheng J, Nakano Y, Abduweli Uyghurturk D, Jalai R, Onur SG, Mentes A, DenBesten PK
• Fluoride Alters Klk4 Expression in Maturation Ameloblasts through Androgen and Progesterone Receptor Signaling.
  Frontiers in physiology 2017 Le MH, Nakano Y, Abduweli Uyghurturk D, Zhu L, Den Besten PK
• A Critical Role of TRPM7 As an Ion Channel Protein in Mediating the Mineralization of the Craniofacial Hard Tissues.
  Frontiers in physiology 2016 Nakano Y, Le MH, Abduweli D, Ho SP, Ryazanova LV, Hu Z, Ryazanov AG, Den Besten PK, Zhang Y
• Amelogenin Exon4 Forms a Novel miRNA That Directs Ameloblast and Osteoblast Differentiation.
  Journal of dental research 2015 Le MH, Warotayanont R, Stahl J, Den Besten PK, Nakano Y
• Exon4 amelogenin transcripts in enamel biomineralization.
  Journal of dental research 2015 Stahl J, Nakano Y, Horst J, Zhu L, Le M, Zhang Y, Liu H, Li W, Den Besten PK
• Fluorosed mouse ameloblasts have increased SATB1 retention and Gαq activity.
  PloS one 2014 Zhang Y, Kim JY, Horst O, Nakano Y, Zhu L, Radlanski RJ, Ho S, Den Besten PK
• WDR72 models of structure and function: a stage-specific regulator of enamel mineralization.
  Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 2014 Katsura KA, Horst JA, Chandra D, Le TQ, Nakano Y, Zhang Y, Horst OV, Zhu L, Le MH, DenBesten PK
• Leucine rich amelogenin peptide alters ameloblast differentiation in vivo.
  Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 2013 Stahl J, Nakano Y, Kim SO, Gibson CW, Le T, DenBesten P
• Comparative temporospatial expression profiling of murine amelotin protein during amelogenesis.
  Cells, tissues, organs 2011 Somogyi-Ganss E, Nakayama Y, Iwasaki K, Nakano Y, Stolf D, McKee MD, Ganss B
• Enzyme replacement therapy prevents dental defects in a model of hypophosphatasia.
  Journal of dental research 2011 McKee MD, Nakano Y, Masica DL, Gray JJ, Lemire I, Heft R, Whyte MP, Crine P, Millán JL
• Regulation of ATPase activity of transglutaminase 2 by MT1-MMP: implications for mineralization of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cultures.
  Journal of cellular physiology 2010 Nakano Y, Forsprecher J, Kaartinen MT
• MEPE-ASARM peptides control extracellular matrix mineralization by binding to hydroxyapatite: an inhibition regulated by PHEX cleavage of ASARM.
  Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2008 Addison WN, Nakano Y, Loisel T, Crine P, McKee MD
• Size distribution and molecular associations of plasma fibronectin and fibronectin crosslinked by transglutaminase 2.
  The protein journal 2008 Nelea V, Nakano Y, Kaartinen MT
• ATP-mediated mineralization of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cultures.
  Bone 2007 Nakano Y, Addison WN, Kaartinen MT
• Expression of bone type 1 PTH receptor in rats with chronic renal failure.
  Clinical and experimental nephrology 2007 Kuwahara M, Inoshita S, Nakano Y, Terada Y, Takano Y, Sasaki S
• Expression and localization of plasma transglutaminase factor XIIIA in bone.
  The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society 2007 Nakano Y, Al-Jallad HF, Mousa A, Kaartinen MT
• Formation of acellular cementum-like layers, with and without extrinsic fiber insertion, along inert bone surfaces of aging c-Src gene knockout mice.
  European journal of oral sciences 2006 Baba O, Miyata A, Abe T, Shibata S, Nakano Y, Terashima T, Oda T, Kudo A, Takano Y
• The existence of CD11c+ sentinel and F4/80+ interstitial dendritic cells in dental pulp and their dynamics and functional properties.
  International immunology 2006 Zhang J, Kawashima N, Suda H, Nakano Y, Takano Y, Azuma M
• Proteolysis on maturing enamel surface, as shown by gel-coating methods.
  European journal of oral sciences 2006 Takano Y, Nakano Y, Yamamoto-Shuda Y, Baba O, Terashima T
• Transglutaminase activity regulates osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cultures.
  Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 2006 Al-Jallad HF, Nakano Y, Chen JL, McMillan E, Lefebvre C, Kaartinen MT
• Eccentric localization of osteocytes expressing enzymatic activities, protein, and mRNA signals for type 5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).
  The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society 2004 Nakano Y, Toyosawa S, Takano Y
• Site-specific localization of two distinct phosphatases along the osteoblast plasma membrane: tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase and plasma membrane calcium ATPase.
  Bone 2004 Nakano Y, Beertsen W, van den Bos T, Kawamoto T, Oda K, Takano Y
• The induction of enamel and dentin complexes by subcutaneous implantation of reconstructed human and murine tooth germ elements.
  Archives of histology and cytology 2004 Isogawa N, Terashima T, Nakano Y, Kindaichi J, Takagi Y, Takano Y
• Alkaline and acid phosphatases in bone cells serve as phosphohydrolases at physiological pH in vivo: a histochemical implication.
  Connective tissue research 2003 Nakano Y, Kawamoto T, Oda K, Takano Y
• Possible role of dentin matrix in region-specific deposition of cellular and acellular extrinsic fibre cementum.
  Journal of electron microscopy 2003 Takano Y, Sakai H, Watanabe E, Ideguchi-Ohma N, Jayawardena CK, Arai K, Asawa Y, Nakano Y, Shuda Y, Sakamoto Y, Terashima T
• Phosphatase activities of rat intestinal enterocytes and their relation to diverse luminal pH, with special references to the possible localization of phytase along the brush border membrane.
  Archives of histology and cytology 2001 Nakano Y, Kawamoto T, Takano Y