Gating and regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels

Gating and regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels.

Connexin 43 (Cx43) nonjunctional or "unapposed" hemichannels can open under physiological or pathological conditions. We characterize hemichannels comprised of Cx43 or Cx43-EGFP (Cx43 with enhanced GFP fused to the C terminus) expressed in HeLa cells. Channel opening was induced at potentials greater than +60 mV. Open probability appeared to be very low. No comparable opening was detected in th...

Connexin 43 hemichannels are permeable to ATP.

Astrocytes are electrically nonexcitable cells that communicate by means of Ca(2+) signaling. Long-distance intercellular Ca(2+) waves are initiated by release of ATP and activation of purinergic receptors on nearby cells. Previous studies have implicated connexin 43 (Cx43) in ATP release, but definitive proof that ATP exits through Cx43 hemichannels does not exist. Here, through several altern...

Connexin 43 Hemichannels and Pharmacotherapy of Myocardial Ischemia Injury

Connexin 43 hemichannels and intracellular signaling in bone cells

Cell function and survival are controlled by intracellular signals, and modulated by surrounding cells and the extracellular environment. Connexin channels participate in these processes by mediating cell-to-cell communication. In bone cells, gap junction channels were detected in the early 1970s, and are present among bone resorbing osteoclasts, bone forming osteoblasts, and osteocytes - matur...

Expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) is critical for normal hematopoiesis.

Gap junctions are intercellular channels, formed by individual structural units known as connexins (Cx), that allow the intercellular exchange of various messenger molecules. The finding that numbers of Cx43-type gap junctions in bone marrow are elevated during establishment and regeneration of the hematopoietic system has led to the hypothesis that expression of Cx43 is critical during the ini...