Special delivery: dynamic targeting via cortical capture of microtubules.
Gap junction formation depends on the proper transport of connexin hemichannels to sites of cell-cell contact. Recently in Cell, Shaw et al. implicate microtubule tip tracking proteins in the trafficking of connexin43 to adherens junctions (Shaw et al., 2007). This finding suggests a mechanism for targeted delivery of membrane proteins by microtubule capture at the cortex.
Levy
Jennifer R
JR
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, D400 Richards Building, 3700 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Holzbaur
Erika L F
EL
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D017630:Connexins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins