Electrophysiology of single and aggregate Cx43 hemichannels

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47775. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047775. Epub 2012 Oct 24.

Abstract

Connexin43 (Cx43) is the most ubiquitous gap junction protein in the human body and is essential for cell-to-cell communication in a variety of organs and organ systems. As a result, Cx43 is responsible for mediating both electrical and chemical signals, passing dissolved solutes and small signaling molecules between cells in a coordinated fashion. Here, we explore the electrophysiological properties of hemichannels formed from Cx43 and Cx43 fused to eGFP (Cx43eGFP) and their interactions in a planar lipid membrane (BLM). Unlike in vivo patch clamp experiments, Cx43 was purified and isolated from other membrane constituents allowing elucidation of individual protein responses to various electrical and chemical stimuli. Using this system, we examined hemichannel electrophysiology and the roles of several well-known gap junction blockers, namely: lanthanum, heptanol, carbenoxalone and lindane. We also observed a critical number of hemichannels required for an accelerated conductance increase, an emergent electrical signature indicative of plaque formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbenoxolone / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Connexin 43 / genetics
  • Connexin 43 / metabolism*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Gap Junctions / drug effects
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Heptanol / pharmacology
  • Hexachlorocyclohexane / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Insecticides / pharmacology
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Membrane Fusion
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Connexin 43
  • Insecticides
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Hexachlorocyclohexane
  • Heptanol
  • Carbenoxolone

Grants and funding

This work was sponsored by internal funds from the University of Cincinnati. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.