title: Formation of hybrid cell-cell channels.
abstract: The oocyte cell-cell channel assay was used to demonstrate that connexin-43 is a cell-cell channel-forming protein as previously shown for connexin-32. Expression of connexin-32 in one and connexin-43 in the other oocyte of a pair results in the formation of junctional conductances at rates similar to those observed when only one or the other connexin is expressed in both oocytes of a pair. This suggests that hybrid cell-cell channels form in the oocyte system. Hybrid channels also form when a connexin-43 mRNA-injected oocyte is paired with a noninjected oocyte expressing endogenous connexin. The latter hybrids have properties apparently contributed by both types of hemichannels. Pure connexin-43 channels are not voltage gated, whereas pure oocyte channels are voltage dependent; hybrids of these channels rectify.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rabadan-Diehl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017630:Connexins; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA