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09:59
Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication Analysis
Published on: February 26, 2017
Connexin and pannexin mediated cell-cell communication
Eliana Scemes1, Sylvia O Suadicani, Gerhard Dahl
1The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, 10461, USA. scemes@aecom.yu.edu
Neuron Glia Biology
|July 19, 2008
Summary
Connexins and pannexins are gap junction proteins crucial for cell communication. Pannexins also act as non-junctional channels, releasing ATP to modulate intercellular calcium waves in astrocytes.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gap junction proteins, including connexins, innexins, and pannexins, mediate intercellular communication.
- Connexins form gap junctions in deuterostomes, while innexins form them in protostomes.
- Pannexins, deuterostome homologues of innexins, form channels with distinct properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties and functions of connexins, innexins, and pannexins.
- To highlight their roles as intercellular and non-junctional channels.
- To present new data on pannexin function in astrocyte communication.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of gap junction protein families.
- Comparative analysis of connexin and pannexin channel structures and activation.
- Experimental data on pannexin-mediated ATP release and calcium wave modulation in cultured astrocytes.
Main Results:
- Connexins and pannexins exhibit distinct structural and functional properties.
- In the CNS, connexins form junctional channels for coupling, while pannexins function non-junctionally.
- Pannexins release ATP, influencing intercellular calcium-wave transmission in astrocytes.
Conclusions:
- Connexins and pannexins play distinct, complementary roles in intercellular communication.
- Pannexins function as non-junctional channels involved in paracrine signaling.
- Pannexins modulate astrocyte communication by releasing ATP, affecting calcium wave propagation.
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