Human connexin 43 gap junction channel gating: evidence for mode shifts and/or heterogeneity

The gating parameters of human connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junction channels were determined using dual whole cell patch clamp and methods designed for analysis of multichannel recordings. Under steady-state conditions, the mean open time (MOT) of Cx43 gap junction channels was computed and it ranged from 0.43 to 5.25 s. The computed mean closed times (MCT) varied from 0.21 to 1.49 s. Analysis showed that, while the MOT declined with increasing transjunctional voltage (Vj), the apparent decline in the MCT with Vj was not statistically significant. The calculated open probabilities ranged from 0.50 to 0.95. Inspection of the data showed that there was a prolonged decay in junctional current, which had a time course of 60-150 s. The analysis excluded the possibility of a homogeneous voltage inactivated/deactivated population of independent and identical Cx43 gap junction channels. The analysis provided evidence for a homogeneous population of Cx43 channels, which can mode shift under the influence of voltage. The latter case cannot be distinguished from a heterogeneous population of Cx43 channels in which one population is voltage inactivated/deactivated and another is unaffected or weakly inactivated/deactivated by voltage.