High-resolution measurements of gap-junctional conductance during perfusion with anti-connexin antibodies in pairs of cultured mammalian cells.
Antibodies against the main proteins in hepatic gap junctions--connexin-26 and connexin-32--have been used in conjunction with high-resolution patch-clamp techniques to investigate whether a relation exists between connexin type and conductance of single gap-junctional channels. Two different cell lines, BRL cells, derived from rat liver, and FL cells a human amniotic cell line exhibited the same single-channel conductances in double whole-cell recordings, but reacted differently upon dialysis with antibodies. Preliminary results indicate that both cell lines express mainly connexin-43. Thus, in spite of the inhibitory action of anti-cx26 and anti-cx32 antibodies observed, the data question the reliability of these antibodies for the functional characterization of gap-junction proteins in electrophysiological experiments.
Paschke
D
D
Abt. Biophysik, Universität Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany.
Eckert
R
R
Hülser
D F
DF
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010477:Perfusion
D000906:Antibodies; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072259:Connexin 26