Voltage-dependent gap junction channels are formed by connexin32, the major gap junction protein of rat liver

Biophys J. 1991 Apr;59(4):920-5. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(91)82305-0.

Abstract

We report here experiments undertaken in pairs of hepatocytes that demonstrate a marked voltage sensivity of junctional conductance and, thus, contradict earlier findings reported by this laboratory (Spray, D.C., R.D.ginzberg, E.A., E. A. Morales, Z. Gatmaitan and I.M. Arias, 1986, J. Cell Biol. 101:135-144; Spray C.D. R.L. White, A.C. Campos de Carvalho, and M.V.L. Bennett. 1984. Biophys. J. 45:219-230) and by others (Dahl, G., T. Moller, D. Paul, R. Voellmy, and R. Werner. 1987. Science [Wash. DC] 236:1290-1293; Riverdin, E.C., and R. Weingart. 1988. Am. J. Physiol. 254:C226-C234). Expression in exogenous systems, lipid bilayers in which fragments of isolated gap junction membranes were incorporated (Young, J.D.-E., Z. Cohn, and N.B. Gilula. 1987. Cell. 48:733-743.) and noncommunicating cells transfected with connexin32 cDNA (Eghbali, B., J.A. Kessler, and D.C. Spray. 1990. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87:1328-1331), support these findings and indicate that the voltage-dependent channel is composed of connexin32, the major gap junction protein of rat liver (Paul, D. 1986. J. Cell Biol. 103:123-134).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Connexins
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions / physiology*
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liver / physiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Connexins
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Proteins