title: Expression of connexin 30 in Xenopus embryos and its involvement in hatching gland function.
abstract: Connexins are a family of proteins that assemble to form gap junction channels. Cell-cell communication through gap junctions mediates many important events in embryogenesis, including limb patterning, lens physiology, neuronal function, left-right asymmetry, and secretion from gland tissue. We studied the expression of connexin 30 (Cx30) in the Xenopus embryo and find that it is expressed in the developing hatching gland and pronephros. To determine whether its expression plays a functional role in the activity of the hatching gland, we exposed pre-hatching embryos to drugs that block gap junctional communication. This resulted in a continuation of normal growth and development but specifically abolished hatching. The treatment did not affect Cx30 or Xenopus hatching enzyme transcription, suggesting a post-transcriptional effect on Cx30 gap junctions. We conclude that junctional communication, possibly mediated by Cx30, is involved in secretion of hatching enzyme in Xenopus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercola
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D019850:Heptanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002186:Cannabinoids; D000075302:Connexin 30; D017630:Connexins; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid; D019850:Heptanol; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein; C024344:envelysin; C078814:anandamide