Stable expression of pannexin 1 (Panx1) and pannexin 3 (Panx3) resulted in functional gap junctions (GJs) in HeLa cells, but not in Neuro-2a (N2a) or PC-12 cells. The glycosylation pattern of expressed Panx1 varied greatly among different cell lines. In contrast to connexin (Cx) containing GJs (Cx-GJs), junctional conductance (Gj) of pannexin GJs (Panx-GJs) is very less sensitive to junctional ...

Metastatic colonization of a secondary organ site is initiated by the attachment of blood-borne tumor cells to organ-specific adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of microvascular endothelial cells. Using digital video imaging microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting techniques, we show here that highly metastatic cells (B16-F10 murine melanoma and R3230AC-MET rat mammary adeno...

To search for secondary metabolites of Alnus hirsuta (Betulaceae), various chromatographic separations of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the stem bark of A. hirsuta led to the isolation of a new diarylheptanoid glycoside, (3R)-1,7-bis-(4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-heptanol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (13) and twelve diarylheptanoid derivatives, namely, oregonin (1), ru...

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 prop...

Densities and viscosities of binary mixtures of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) with 1-alkanols include 1-butanol, or +1-pentanol, or +1-hexanol, or +1-heptanol were measured as a function of composition from 293.15 to 308.15 K at atmospheric pressure. The temperatures studied were 293.15, 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15 K. The experimental results have been used to calculate the viscosity de...

Parasitoid insects face considerable trade-offs in locating suitable hosts within complex environments. Apocephalus paraponerae (Diptera: Phoridae) locates its host ant Paraponera clavata (Formicidae: Ponerinae) using olfactory cues. Here, comparing two populations of A. paraponerae, I describe differences in host location cues between two sites, Barro Colorado Island (BCI) in Panama and La Sel...

When olfactory receptor neurons respond to odors, a depolarizing Cl(-) efflux is a substantial part of the response. This requires that the resting neuron accumulate Cl(-) against an electrochemical gradient. In isolated olfactory receptor neurons, the Na(+)+K(+)+2Cl(-) cotransporter NKCC1 is essential for Cl(-) accumulation. However, in intact epithelium, a robust electrical olfactory response...

Oleamide is a sleep-inducing lipid originally isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of sleep-deprived cats. Oleamide was found to potently and selectively inactivate gap junction-mediated communication between rat glial cells. In contrast, oleamide had no effect on mechanically stimulated calcium wave transmission in this same cell type. Other chemical compounds traditionally used as inhibitors...