Molecular determinants of membrane potential dependence in vertebrate gap junction channels

The conductance, g(j), of many gap junctions depends on voltage between the coupled cells (transjunctional voltage, V(j)) with little effect of the absolute membrane potential (V(m)) in the two cells; others show combined V(j) and V(m) dependence. We examined the molecular determinants of V(m) dependence by using rat connexin 43 expressed in paired Xenopus oocytes. These junctions have, in addition to V(j) dependence, V(m) dependence such that equal depolarization of both cells decreases g(j). The dependence of g(j) on V(m) was abolished by truncation of the C-terminal domain (CT) at residue 242 but not at 257. There are two charged residues between 242 and 257. In full-length Cx43, mutations neutralizing either one of these charges, Arg243Gln and Asp245Gln, decreased and increased V(m) dependence, respectively, suggesting that these residues are part of the V(m) sensor. Mutating both residues together abolished V(m) dependence, although there is no net change in charge. The neutralizing mutations, together or separately, had no effect on V(j) dependence. Thus, the voltage sensors must differ. However, V(j) gating was somewhat modulated by V(m), and V(m) gating was reduced when the V(j) gate was closed. These data suggest that the two forms of voltage dependence are mediated by separate but interacting domains.