Deciphering the functions of Stromal Interaction Molecule-1 in Amelogenesis using Amelx-iCre mice

STIM1 is an ER transmembrane protein that serve as the main intracellular calcium (iCa2+) sensors in several mammalian cells. Humans with mutated STIM1 present with severely defective enamel which suggests a critical role of STIM1 protein in enamel formation. We established an ameloblast specific (Amelx-iCre) Stim1 conditional deletion mouse model (Stim1 cKO). RNAseq on micro-dissected ameloblasts from 4 weeks old mice to evaluate changes in the gene expression levels of several key ameloblast genes. Whole incisor enamel organ (EO) cell populations of 4 week old mice were extracted from 3 samples; 1 Stim1 cKO sample with complete deletion of Stim1, 1 Stim1 Heterozygous (Stim1 Het) sample with heterozygous deletion of one Stim1 allele and 1 sample with no Stim1 deletion as it was Cre negative. The Stim1 Het and Cre negative samples were used as controls. RNAseq libraries were prepared and loaded on the HiSeq 2500 high output Sequencing System (Illumina).