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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

48.1K
Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

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The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
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Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

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Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
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Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

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Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
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Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight...
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Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

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The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
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Study of Gap Junctions in Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

Alice Pébay1, Raymond C B Wong

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Level 1 RVEEH, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia, apebay@unimelb.edu.au.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
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Summary

Functional gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is crucial for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) maintenance and proliferation. This chapter details methods for studying GJIC and gap junction proteins in hESCs.

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Area of Science:

  • Stem cell biology
  • Cellular communication

Background:

  • Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a role in various biological events.
  • GJIC is essential for mouse embryonic stem cell maintenance and proliferation.
  • Studies suggest GJIC is common in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) across different culture conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce methods for studying gap junctions in hESCs.
  • To explore the role of GJIC in hESC proliferation, apoptosis, colony growth, and pluripotency.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing gap junction protein expression in hESCs.
  • Functional assays to evaluate GJIC in hESCs.
  • Analyzing GJIC's impact on hESC proliferation, apoptosis, colony formation, and pluripotency.

Main Results:

  • Gap junction proteins are expressed in hESCs.
  • Functional GJIC is demonstrable in hESCs.
  • GJIC influences key hESC characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Methods for studying GJIC in hESCs are presented.
  • GJIC is an important characteristic of hESCs, impacting their biological behavior.