Tooth enamel protein responsible for dry macular degeneration deposits?

Amelotin is a protein that is associated with tooth enamel. It causes the formation of mineralized calcium in tooth enamel. Researchers are finding that it may also be responsible for calcium deposits in the back of the eye that are found in people with dry age-related macular degeneration.

The research findings are published in Translational Research. Researchers discovered a calcium-containing mineral compound called hydroxyapatite (HAP) in dry AMD deposits also known as drusen. HAP is a vital component of bone and tooth enamel. HAP accumulating in the dry AMD drusen was previously unknown.

Researchers hope that with this new found knowledge that drugs could be developed that would block the function of amelotin in the eye and thus delay the progression of macular degeneration.