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Extracellular Cysteines Are Critical to Form Functional Cx46 Hemichannels.

Ainoa Fernández-Olivares1, Eduardo Durán-Jara2, Daniel A Verdugo3

  • 1Programa de Comunicación Celular en Cáncer, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7780272, Chile.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 9, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Extracellular cysteines (Cys) are crucial for connexin 46 (Cx46) hemichannel function. Mutating these Cys residues results in permanently closed hemichannels, suggesting Cys modification as a therapeutic target for Cx46-related diseases.

Keywords:
channel permeabilityconnexinsextracellular loopspost-translational modificationredox sensing

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular medicine

Background:

  • Connexin (Cx) hemichannels are implicated in numerous physiological and pathological processes.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms governing Cx hemichannel gating are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of extracellular cysteines (Cys) in the gating and function of Cx46 hemichannels.
  • To determine if extracellular Cys modification impacts Cx46 hemichannel activity.

Main Methods:

  • Site-directed mutagenesis of extracellular Cys residues in Cx46 to alanine.
  • Assessment of Cx46 expression, cellular localization, and hemichannel activity.
  • Molecular-dynamics simulations to analyze pore properties and residue disposition.

Main Results:

  • Mutations of extracellular Cys residues did not affect Cx46 expression or localization.
  • Cx46 Cys mutants exhibited non-functional hemichannels, remaining closed under various stimuli.
  • Molecular simulations suggested altered pore electrostatics and residue positioning in Cys mutants.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular Cys residues are essential for Cx46 hemichannel opening and function.
  • Modification of extracellular Cys leads to permanently closed hemichannels, similar to inhibition by lipid peroxides.
  • Targeting extracellular Cys modification offers a potential therapeutic strategy for Cx46-associated pathologies like cataracts and cancer.