title: IRES elements in connexin genes: a hypothesis explaining the need for connexins to be regulated at the translational level.
abstract: The fact that stem cells do not express gap junctions while most differentiated cells do suggests that gap junctions serve a vital function in the maintenance of the differentiated state. This would require that connexin genes be expressed even in conditions where cap-mediated translation is impaired. It is hypothesized that IRES elements in the 5'-UTRs of the mRNAs of most connexins are required for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101, USA. rwerner@molbio.med.miami.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012315:RNA Caps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D017630:Connexins; D012315:RNA Caps; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein