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Related Experiment Videos

Gap junction structures. VIII. Membrane cross-sections.

G E Sosinsky1, J C Jésior, D L Caspar

  • 1Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254.

Biophysical Journal
|May 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Electron irradiation significantly thins gap junction membranes, but the hexagonal lattice remains intact. Gap junction structure is well-preserved despite radiation-induced changes.

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Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Biophysics
  • Electron microscopy

Background:

  • Gap junctions mediate cell-to-cell communication.
  • Understanding their structural integrity under experimental conditions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of electron irradiation on gap junction structure.
  • To analyze structural changes using high-resolution imaging techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Grid sectioning of negatively stained gap junctions.
  • Analysis of edge views from various specimen preparations.
  • Image averaging utilizing lattice symmetry.

Main Results:

  • Electron irradiation caused significant membrane thinning, reducing thickness by approximately half.

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  • No shrinkage was observed in the hexagonal lattice plane of the gap junctions.
  • Variations in stain distribution within the gap were independent of irradiation but dependent on staining conditions and connexon integrity.
  • Radiation-induced shrinkage is attributed to mass loss from the membrane bilayer.

    • Conclusions:

    • Gap junction membranes are sensitive to electron irradiation, leading to thinning.
    • The hexagonal lattice structure of gap junctions is remarkably stable under irradiation.
    • The gap structure itself remains well-preserved, indicating resilience to experimental conditions.