Description
This gene encodes a member of the small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoprotein (SIBLING) family of proteins. The encoded preproprotein is secreted by odontoblasts and proteolytically processed to generate two principal proteins of the dentin extracellular matrix of the tooth, dentin sialoprotein and dentin phosphoprotein. These two protein products may play distinct but related roles in dentin mineralization. Mutations in this gene are associated with dentinogenesis imperfecta and dentin dysplasia. This gene is present in a gene cluster on chromosome 4. Allelic differences due to repeat polymorphisms have been found for this gene.