Zoidl Georg, Kremer Marian, Zoidl Christiane, Bunse Stefanie, Dermietzel Rolf
Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Cell Commun Adhes. 2008 May;15(1):169-83. doi: 10.1080/15419060802014081.
Gap junctions are among the most widely distributed cell structures involved in cell-to-cell communication. Recently completed genome sequencing projects including species from all major phyla have demonstrated the existence of three distinct gene families, the connexins, pannexins, and innexins, as molecular building blocks of gap junctional communication. In the present study, the authors have addressed the molecular complexity of gap junction gene expression in the zebrafish retina, a remarkably complex sensory organ built by diverse neuronal subtypes. Using a combination of cDNA library and genomic DNA library screening and/or RACE technology, the authors have cloned, in addition to the four previously reported connexins, seven novel connexins and four pannexin transcripts resembling two pannexin genes. This result demonstrates the presence of two distinct gap junction type gene families and indicates a remarkable molecular and functional diversity of gap junction-mediated coupling in the fish retina.
间隙连接是参与细胞间通讯的分布最为广泛的细胞结构之一。最近完成的包括所有主要门类物种的基因组测序项目表明，存在三个不同的基因家族，即连接蛋白、泛连接蛋白和连接子蛋白，作为间隙连接通讯的分子构建模块。在本研究中，作者探讨了斑马鱼视网膜中间隙连接基因表达的分子复杂性，斑马鱼视网膜是一个由多种神经元亚型构建而成的极其复杂的感觉器官。通过结合cDNA文库和基因组DNA文库筛选及/或RACE技术，作者除了克隆出之前报道的四种连接蛋白外，还克隆出了七种新的连接蛋白和四种类似于两个泛连接蛋白基因的泛连接蛋白转录本。这一结果证明了存在两种不同的间隙连接类型基因家族，并表明鱼视网膜中间隙连接介导的偶联在分子和功能上具有显著的多样性。
