Alan Fincham and the era of enamel protein Biochemistry

Thomas G H Diekwisch

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.1071265

Alan Fincham and the era of enamel protein Biochemistry

Front Physiol. 2022 Dec 5:13:1071265. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1071265. eCollection 2022.

Author

Thomas G H Diekwisch¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Margaret and Cy Welcher Professor of Dentistry, Eastman Institute of Oral Health, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States.

Abstract

Enamel research experienced an unprecedented period of growth during the latter part of the 20th century until today. This growth is in part due to the contributions of a number of iconic scientists such as Alan G. Fincham, the focus of the present review. Alan was involved in many of the seminal discoveries of this time, including the identification of the critical amelogenin peptides TRAP and LRAP, the determination of the amelogenin amino acid sequence, the identification of the sole serin-16 phosphorylation site, and the amelogenin nanosphere theory. Alan was also a superb mentor to graduate students and others. His experience and leadership related to problem-based learning greatly affected predoctoral dental education at the University of Southern California and in the United States.

Keywords: LRAP; TRAP; amelogenin; nanospheres; problem-based learning.

Publication types

Review