Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
10:46
Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
Published on: July 16, 2013
16.3K
Diversity in connexin biology.
Sergiu A Lucaciu1, Stephanie E Leighton2, Alexandra Hauser2
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|September 21, 2023
Summary
Connexins, initially known for gap junctions, are now understood to have diverse roles beyond intercellular communication, including cell adhesion and transcriptional regulation. This review explores their multifaceted functions in human cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Connexins form gap junctions for intercellular communication.
- The human connexin family comprises 21 members with diverse expression patterns.
- Connexin hemichannels have emerged with novel roles beyond gap junctions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of knowledge on connexin expression in adult humans.
- To highlight recent evidence linking connexins to diverse cellular functions.
- To discuss the multifunctional properties of connexins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of connexin biology.
- Analysis of structural data (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM).
- Examination of connexin roles in various cellular processes.
Main Results:
- Connexins exhibit bifunctional and multifunctional properties.
- Connexin half-lives vary significantly by isoform and cell type.
- Connexins are implicated in cell adhesion, tunneling nanotubes, extracellular vesicles, mitochondrial membranes, and transcription regulation.
Conclusions:
- Connexin research has evolved from focusing solely on gap junctions to recognizing their broad cellular functions.
- Connexins, particularly Cx43, play critical roles in numerous human organs and cellular processes.
- Further research into connexin multifunctionality is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Gap Junctions
53.0K
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...
53.0K
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
44.7K
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
44.7K
01:22Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
6.5K
The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity.
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
6.5K
01:29Tight Junctions
5.3K
Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
5.3K
01:14Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions
25.6K
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...
Occluding or Tight...
25.6K
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
3.0K
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
3.0K