title: Formation of gap junctions by expression of connexins in Xenopus oocyte pairs.
abstract: RNAs coding for connexins 32, 43, and the putative lens gap junction protein MP26 were tested for their ability to induce cell-cell coupling in Xenopus oocyte pairs. Large, voltage-insensitive conductances developed when connexin32 and 43 RNA-injected oocytes were paired both with themselves and with each other. Oocyte pairs injected with water manifested small conductances, which were symmetrically voltage-dependent. MP26 RNA-injected pairs displayed no conductances above control values. Unexpectedly, connexin43/water oocyte pairs developed high, asymmetrically voltage-dependent conductances, a property not displayed by the connexin32/water pairs. In single oocytes, these proteins remained intracellular until pairing, at which time the connexins, but not MP26, concentrated at the appositional areas.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors: K I
authors: KI
authors: Swenson
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Jordan
authors: E C
authors: EC
authors: Beyer
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Paul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane; D017630:Connexins; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger