title: Three-dimensional structure of a human connexin26 gap junction channel reveals a plug in the vestibule.
abstract: Connexin molecules form intercellular membrane channels facilitating electronic coupling and the passage of small molecules between adjoining cells. Connexin26 (Cx26) is the second smallest member of the gap junction protein family, and mutations in Cx26 cause certain hereditary human diseases such as skin disorders and hearing loss. Here, we report the electron crystallographic structure of a human Cx26 mutant (M34A). Although crystallization trials used hemichannel preparations, the density map revealed that two hemichannels redocked at their extracellular surfaces into full intercellular channels. These orthorhombic crystals contained two sets of symmetry-related intercellular channels within three lipid bilayers. The 3D map shows a prominent density in the pore of each hemichannel. This density contacts the innermost helices of the surrounding connexin subunits at the bottom of the vestibule. The density map suggests that physical blocking may play an important role that underlies gap junction channel regulation. Our structure allows us to suggest that the two docked hemichannels can be independent and may regulate their activity autonomously with a plug in the vestibule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Oiwake, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiroaki
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.forename: Gina E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sosinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D000072259:Connexin 26