title: Molecular cloning and functional expression of the mouse gap junction gene connexin-57 in human HeLa cells.
abstract: A new mouse connexin gene has been isolated that codes for a connexin protein of 505 amino acid residues. Based on the predicted molecular mass of 57.115 kDa, it has been designated connexin-57. Similar to most other mouse connexin genes, the coding region of connexin-57 is not interrupted by introns and exists in the mouse genome as a single-copy gene. Within the connexin family, this new gene shows highest sequence identity to porcine connexin-60 in the alpha group of connexins. The connexin-57 gene was mapped to a position on mouse chromosome 4, 30 centimorgans proximal to a cluster of previously mapped connexin genes. Low levels of connexin-57 mRNA were detected in skin, heart, kidney, testis, ovary, intestine, and in the mouse embryo after 8 days post coitum, but expression was not detected in brain, sciatic nerve or liver. In order to analyze gene function, the connexin-57 coding region was expressed by transfection in human HeLa cells, where it restored homotypic intercellular transfer of microinjected neurobiotin. Heterotypic transfer was observed between HeLa connexin-57 transfectants and HeLa cells, expressing murine connexin-43, -37, or -30.3. Double whole-cell voltage clamp analyses revealed that HeLa-connexin-57 transfectants expressed about 10 times more channels than parental HeLa cells. Voltage gating by transjunctional and transmembrane voltages as well as unitary conductance ( approximately 27 picosiemens) were different from intrinsic connexin channels in parental HeLa cells.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017630:Connexins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis