Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

7.0K

Regulation of connexin signaling by the epigenetic machinery

Mathieu Vinken1

  • 1Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Building G, Room G226, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|November 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic factors like DNA methylation and microRNAs regulate connexin expression, impacting cellular communication and life cycle control. Understanding these epigenetic mechanisms is crucial for comprehending connexin roles in cell signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Connexins and their channels mediate crucial cellular communication, influencing cell growth to cell death.
  • Connexin channel activity is regulated by posttranslational modifications, while expression is controlled by cis/trans mechanisms.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of epigenetic modifications in regulating connexin production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the epigenetic regulation of connexin expression.
  • To explore the influence of major epigenome determinants on connexin production.
  • To connect epigenetic mechanisms to the control of cellular life cycle aspects mediated by connexins.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on epigenetics and connexin biology.
  • Analysis of the roles of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNAs.
  • Synthesis of findings to illustrate the impact on connexin expression.

Main Results:

  • DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNAs are key epigenetic determinants influencing connexin expression.
  • These epigenetic factors provide an additional layer of regulation beyond classical cis/trans mechanisms.
  • Epigenetic control of connexins is integral to their multifaceted roles in cellular signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNAs, play a critical role in regulating connexin expression.
  • Understanding these epigenetic influences is essential for a comprehensive view of connexin function in cellular communication and life cycle regulation.
  • This review underscores the importance of epigenetics in the intricate control of cellular processes mediated by connexins.
Keywords:
ConnexinDNA methylationGap junctionHemichannelHistone acetylationMicroRNA

More Related Videos

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells10:46

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Published on: July 16, 2013

16.8K
Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiac Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells and Tissues13:03

Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiac Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells and Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2016

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
4.2K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
34.3K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

26.3K
Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

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...
58.4K
Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

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...
10.7K
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
8.5K