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Related Experiment Videos

Connexin43 gap junctions exhibit asymmetrical gating properties

K Banach1, R Weingart

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.

Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
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Connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction channels show voltage-dependent gating, with asymmetrical behavior observed under specific voltage-clamp conditions. This suggests Cx43 channel gating is sensitive to voltage polarity, potentially impacting cell communication.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular neuroscience

Background:

  • Gap junction channels facilitate direct cell-to-cell communication.
  • Connexin43 (Cx43) is a key protein forming these channels.
  • Understanding Cx43 channel gating mechanisms is crucial for cellular function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the voltage-gating mechanism of connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction channels.
  • To assess the influence of voltage polarity on Cx43 channel gating behavior.
  • To elucidate the functional properties of Cx43 channels in communication-deficient cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a communication-deficient RIN cell line stably transfected with rat Cx43 cDNA.
  • Employed a dual whole-cell voltage-clamp technique on preformed cell pairs.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Applied asymmetrical and symmetrical voltage pulse protocols to analyze junctional current (Ij).

    • Main Results:

    • Junctional current (Ij) exhibited time- and voltage-dependent inactivation at transjunctional voltages (Vj) > +/-40 mV.
    • Asymmetrical gating behavior was observed with asymmetrical voltage pulses, with parameters being more sensitive to positive Vj.
    • Symmetrical voltage pulses eliminated Vj-dependent asymmetries, suggesting polarity influences gating.

    Conclusions:

    • Cx43 gap junction channels display asymmetrical voltage gating.
    • The polarity of transjunctional voltage significantly affects Cx43 channel gating kinetics and inactivation.
    • Potential alterations in channel number with Vj polarity may explain the observed asymmetries.