title: Gap junction assembly: multiple connexin fluorophores identify complex trafficking pathways.
abstract: The assembly of gap junction channels was studied using mammalian cells expressing connexin (Cx) 26, 32 and 43 in which the carboxyl terminus was fused to green, yellow or cyan fluorescent proteins (GFP, YFP, CFP). Intracellular targeting of Cx32-CFP and 43-GFP to gap junctions was disrupted by brefeldin A treatment and resulted in a severe loss of gap junctional intercellular communication reflected by low intercellular dye transfer. Cells expressing Cx43-GFP exposed to nocodazole showed normal targeting to gap junctions and dye transfer. Cx32 and 43 thus appear to be transported and assembled into gap junctions via the classical secretory pathway. In contrast, we found that assembly of Cx26-GFP into functional gap junctions was relatively unaffected by treatment of cells with brefeldin A, but was extremely sensitive to nocodazole treatment. Coexpression of Cx26-YFP and Cx32-CFP indicated a different intracellular distribution that was accentuated in the presence of brefeldin A, with the gap junctions in these cells constructed predominantly of Cx26-YFP. A site specific mutation in the first transmembrane domain that distinguished Cx32 from Cx26 (Cx32128L) resulted in the adoption of the trafficking properties of Cx26 as well as its unusual post-translational membrane integration characteristics. The results indicate that multiple intracellular connexin trafficking routes exist and provide a further mechanism for regulating the connexin composition of gap junctions and thus specificity in intercellular signalling.
authors.affiliation: Wales Heart Research Institute and Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK. martinpe@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020126:Brefeldin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D019556:COS Cells; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000072259:Connexin 26; D020126:Brefeldin A; D015739:Nocodazole