Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deborah H. Brotherton, Christos G. Savva, Timothy J. Ragan, Nicholas Dale, Alexander D. Cameron
Summary: This study reveals that an increase in PCO2 leads to the closure of Cx26 gap junctions, which is correlated with the size of the pore aperture. The analysis indicates that the size of the pore is controlled by the N-terminal helices, and CO2 alone is sufficient to induce conformational changes in the protein.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jin Kono, Masakatsu Ueda, Atsushi Sengiku, Sylvia O. Suadicani, Osamu Ogawa, Hiromitsu Negoro
Summary: The study suggests that urothelial Cx43 mediated ATP signaling and coordination of urothelial activity are essential for proper perception and regulation of responses to bladder distension in the animals' awake, active phase. This research highlights the significant role of Cx43 in bladder function.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nataly Hastings, Yi-Lin Yu, Botian Huang, Sagnik Middya, Misaki Inaoka, Nadia A. Erkamp, Roger J. Mason, Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte, Saifur Rahman, Tuomas P. J. Knowles, Manohar Bance, George G. Malliaras, Mark R. N. Kotter
Summary: Astrocytes are brain cells that communicate through gap junctions and chemical transmitters. The functions of astrocytic networks in information processing in the brain are not fully understood. AstroMEA, a multi-electrode array device, can separate neuronal and astrocytic networks and study the effects of astrocytic signals on neuronal activity.
Article
Cell Biology
Eijaz Ahmed Bhat, Nasreena Sajjad, Saeed Banawas, Johra Khan
Summary: CALHMs, particularly CALHM1, play crucial roles in neuronal functioning and have been associated with pathologies like Alzheimer's disease. Recent Cryo-EM research on CALHM5 has provided insights into its structure and potential functional properties.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ji Xu, Bruce J. Nicholson
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of Cx30 hemichannels using heterologous expression systems. It was found that Cx30 hemichannels are sensitive to voltage and extracellular Ca2+ and show minimal selectivity for small ions but increased permeability for larger anions. Comparison with Cx26 gap junctions in the cochlea revealed differences in ATP permeability, indicating distinct physiological functions of Cx30 and Cx26 in energy distribution.
Article
Cell Biology
Tenderano T. Muzorewa, Donald G. Buerk, Dov Jaron, Kenneth A. Barbee
Summary: This study demonstrates the differential regulation of NO production by classical and novel PKCs in response to shear stress and ATP stimulation. PKC eta plays a crucial role in modulating eNOS activation, while PKC beta has a more modest influence. The findings shed light on the intricate PKC signaling architecture and provide insights for the development of drugs targeting PKC-sensitive cardiovascular pathologies.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alice McDouall, Kelly Q. Zhou, Laura Bennet, Colin R. Green, Alistair J. Gunn, Joanne O. Davidson
Summary: Perinatal brain injury, caused by hypoxia-ischemia and/or infection/inflammation, is a major cause of disability. Despite the effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia, additional interventions are needed as nearly half of the infants still have adverse outcomes. Recent studies have shown that brain injury spreads over time from the initial site to previously unaffected regions, partly due to the opening of connexin hemichannels and pannexin channels. Blockade of these channels has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animal models, suggesting their potential as targeted interventions in combination or separate from therapeutic hypothermia.
Article
Neurosciences
Chelsea M. Phillips, Allison M. Johnson, Svetlana M. Stamatovic, Richard F. Keep, Anuska V. Andjelkovic
Summary: This study reveals that the absence of CCM3 leads to structural defects in the brain endothelial barrier, increasing the risk of vascular leakage. The upregulation of GJA1-20 k is found to disrupt the balance between gap junctions and tight junctions, destabilizing the tight junction complex and increasing brain endothelial barrier permeability.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ryan C. F. Siu, Anna Kotova, Ksenia Timonina, Christiane Zoidl, Georg R. Zoidl
Summary: The study highlights the interplay between Connexin-36 (Cx36), NMDA receptor, and Pannexin 1 in calcium signaling in neuronal cells. It shows that CaMKII binding to Cx36 increases gap junction opening, with NMDA receptor and Pannexin 1 playing crucial roles. The research emphasizes the importance of calcium-dependent signaling in modulating the efficacy of Cx36 channels.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Lina Xu, Yunlei Pan, Shunli Tang, Juan Bai, Yinhua Wu, Jianjun Qiao, Hong Fang
Summary: The localization of Claudin-1 and Claudin-7 and their correlation with MAPK/ERK and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways in tumorigenesis and infiltration in cutaneous SCC have been revealed through this study.
JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oanh Tran, Silke Kerruth, Catherine Coates, Hansween Kaur, Camillo Peracchia, Tom Carter, Katalin Torok
Summary: This study investigates the interaction of Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) with connexins (Cx) and provides insights into the regulation of gap junction function. The CL2 peptides of different Cx isoforms were found to have high affinity for Ca2+/CaM and also bind to apo-CaM. Furthermore, conformational changes in the CL2 domain were observed, suggesting its involvement in the hexameric gap junction. Ca2+/CaM was shown to inhibit gap junction permeability in a dose-dependent manner.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Tadas Kraujalis, Lukas Gudaitis, Lina Kraujaliene, Mindaugas Snipas, Nicolas Palacios-Prado, Vytas K. Verselis
Summary: Electrical synapses formed by the connexin36 (Cx36) gap junction (GJ) channel protein play a significant role in the mammalian central nervous system. This study investigates the impact of amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal (NT) domain of Cx36 GJs on their modulation by intracellular Mg2+. The results suggest that Mg2+ binding to and stabilization of the closed state in each hemichannel is the most likely mechanism for Mg2+ modulation of Cx36 GJ, and the NT domain may be involved in the coupling of conformational changes between the NT and extracellular E1 domains.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caterina Sellitto, Leping Li, Thomas W. White
Summary: Mutations in connexin channels genes cause various human skin diseases, including KID syndrome. In a transgenic mouse model of KID syndrome, topical application of a hemichannel inhibitor reduced skin pathology associated with the syndrome. However, discontinuation of the inhibitor allowed disease progression, suggesting potential for therapeutic intervention targeting aberrant hemichannel activity in KID syndrome.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Krisztina Sebok-Nagy, Andras Blastyak, Gabor Juhasz, Tibor Pali
Summary: Ductins are a family of membrane proteins that are structurally similar and have 2 or 4 trans-membrane alpha-helices. They have various functions including pore, channel, and gap-junction functions, as well as assisting in membrane fusion processes and serving as the rotor c-ring domain of V- and F-ATPases. The functions of Ductins are sensitive to the presence of certain divalent metal cations, and it is hypothesized that these cations can structurally modulate the functions of Ductin assemblies by reversible non-covalent binding to them. The direct binding of Me2+ to the c-ring subunit of active ATP hydrolase in autophagy and the mechanism of Ca2+-dependent formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore are also discussed.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Yuxi Li, Hsun-Ming Chang, Yu-Wen Sung, Hua Zhu, Peter C. K. Leung, Ying-Pu Sun
Summary: In this study, it was found that the phosphorylation of connexin 43 (Cx43) is mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway, leading to a decline in gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and subsequent effects on oocyte meiotic resumption. This finding is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms of oocyte meiotic resumption.
JOURNAL OF OVARIAN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gregory A. Fendley, Ina L. Urbatsch, Roger B. Sutton, Maria E. Zoghbi, Guillermo A. Altenberg
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria E. Zoghbi, Rebecca S. Cooper, Guillermo A. Altenberg
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2016)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Srinivasan Krishnan, Mariana C. Fiori, Ty E. Whisenant, D. Marien Cortes, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Luis G. Cuello
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana C. Fiori, Srinivasan Krishnan, Abbey Kjellgren, Luis G. Cuello, Guillermo A. Altenberg
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Swapneeta S. Date, Mariana C. Fiori, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Michaela Jansen
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria E. Zoghbi, Guillermo A. Altenberg
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria E. Zoghbi, Guillermo A. Altenberg
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Madher N. AlFindee, Yagya P. Subedi, Mariana C. Fiori, Srinivasan Krishnan, Abbey Kjellgren, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Cheng-Wei T. Chang
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariana C. Fiori, Yunjiang Jiang, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Hongjun Liang
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariana C. Fiori, Yunjiang Jiang, Wan Zheng, Miguel Anzaldua, Mario J. Borgnia, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Hongjun Liang
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maite R. Arana, Mariana C. Fiori, Guillermo A. Altenberg
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariana C. Fiori, Wan Zheng, Elizabeth Kamilar, Geuel Simiyu, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Hongjun Liang
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yagya P. Subedi, Abbey Kjellgren, Paul Roberts, Heath Montgomery, Noah Thackeray, Mariana C. Fiori, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Cheng-Wei T. Chang
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ainoa Fernandez-Olivares, Eduardo Duran-Jara, Daniel A. Verdugo, Mariana C. Fiori, Guillermo A. Altenberg, Jimmy Stehberg, Ivan Alfaro, Juan Francisco Calderon, Mauricio A. Retamal
Summary: This study investigates the role of extracellular cysteines (Cys) in the gating and function of Cx46 hemichannels. The results suggest that the replacement of extracellular Cys leads to permanently closed hemichannels and alters the selectivity and voltage dependency of the hemichannels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biology
Srinivasan Krishnan, Mariana C. Fiori, Luis G. Cuello, Guillermo A. Altenberg
YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2017)