Gap junction dynamics: reversible effects of hydrogen ions

Reversible crystallization of intramembrane particle packings is induced in gap junctions isolated from calf lens fibers by exposure to 3 x 10(-7) M or higher [H+] (pH 6.5 or lower). The changes from disordered to crystalline particle packings induced by low pH are similar to those produced in junctions of intact cells by uncoupling treatments, indicating that H+, like divalent cations, could be an uncoupling agent. The freeze-fracture appearance of both control and low pH-treated gap junctions is not altered by glutaraldehyde fixation and cryoprotective treatment, as suggested by experiments in which gap junctions of both intact cells and isolated fractions are freeze-fractured after rapid freezing to liquid N2 temperature according to Heuser et al. (13). In junctions exposed to low pH, the particles most often form orthogonal and rhombic arrays, frequently fused with each other. A number of structural characteristics of these arrays suggest that the particles of lens fiber gap junctions may be shaped as tetrameres.