Wang Min, Martínez Agustín D, Berthoud Viviana M, Seul Kyung H, Gemel Joanna, Valiunas Virginijus, Kumari Sindhu, Brink Peter R, Beyer Eric C
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Aug 12;333(4):1185-93. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.05.201.
Connexins (Cx) form gap junction channels mediating direct intercellular communication. To study the role of amino acids within the cytoplasmic loop, we produced a recombinant adenovirus containing Cx43 with a deletion of amino acids 130-136 (Cx43del(130-136)). Cx43del(130-136) expressed alone in HeLa cells localized within the cytoplasm and did not allow transfer of ions, neurobiotin or Lucifer yellow. When co-expressed with wild type Cx43, Cx43del(130-136) blocked electrical coupling and transfer of neurobiotin or Lucifer yellow. Cx43del(130-136) and Cx43 co-localized by immunofluorescence and were co-purified from Triton X-100-solubilized cell extracts. Intercellular transfer mediated by Cx37 and Cx45 (but not Cx26 or Cx40) was inhibited when co-expressed with Cx43del(130-136). Cx43del(130-136) co-localized with Cx37, Cx40, or Cx45, but not Cx26. These data suggest that Cx43del(130-136) produces connexin-specific inhibition of intercellular communication through formation of heteromeric connexons that are non-functional and/or retained in the cytoplasm.
连接蛋白(Cx)形成间隙连接通道,介导细胞间的直接通讯。为了研究细胞质环内氨基酸的作用,我们构建了一种重组腺病毒,其包含缺失氨基酸130 - 136的Cx43(Cx43del(130 - 136))。单独在HeLa细胞中表达的Cx43del(130 - 136)定位于细胞质内,且不允许离子、神经生物素或荧光素黄的转运。当与野生型Cx43共表达时,Cx43del(130 - 136)阻断了电偶联以及神经生物素或荧光素黄的转运。Cx43del(130 - 136)和Cx43通过免疫荧光共定位,并从Triton X - 100溶解的细胞提取物中共同纯化出来。当与Cx43del(130 - 136)共表达时,由Cx37和Cx45介导的细胞间转运(但不是Cx26或Cx40介导的)受到抑制。Cx43del(130 - 136)与Cx37、Cx40或Cx45共定位,但不与Cx26共定位。这些数据表明,Cx43del(130 - 136)通过形成无功能和/或保留在细胞质中的异聚连接子,产生连接蛋白特异性的细胞间通讯抑制作用。