“…Digestion of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) through the endosome/lysosome pathway, following trafficking from the enamel space, relies highly on the acidic intracellular luminal environment (Lloyd, 1996). Previous studies have identified the functional role of several groups of genes, including carbonic anhydrases (Lezot et al, 2008), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), chloride channels (CLCNs), solute carrier gene family 4 (SLC4s) and solute carrier gene family 9 (SLC9s), in maintaining the ameloblast-mediated pH homeostasis within both extracellular space and intracellular lumens (Dogterom and Bronckers, 1983; Lin et al, 1994; Wright et al, 1996a,b; Arquitt et al, 2002; Lyaruu et al, 2008; Paine et al, 2008; Bronckers et al, 2009, 2010; Josephsen et al, 2010; Wang et al, 2010; Lacruz et al, 2010a,b, 2012c, 2013a; Chang et al, 2011; Duan et al, 2011; Duan, 2014; Jalali et al, 2014; Reibring et al, 2014; Wen et al, 2014). …”