Connexin proteins are the building blocks of gap junctions and connexin hemichannels. Both provide a pathway for cellular communication. Gap junctions support intercellular communication mechanisms and regulate homeostasis. In contrast, open connexin hemichannels connect the intracellular compartment and the extracellular environment, and their activation fuels inflammation and cell death. The development of clinically applicable connexin hemichannel blockers for therapeutic purposes is therefore gaining momentum. This chapter describes a well-established protocol optimized for assessing connexin hemichannel activity by using the reporter dye Yo-Pro1.
Keywords: Cellular communication; Connexin proteins; Connexin43 hemichannel functionality; Cytosolic uptake of Yo-Pro1; Lentiviral transduction of connexin43.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.