Connexons and cell adhesion: a romantic phase.
Recent evidence indicates, that gap junction forming proteins do not only contribute to intercellular communication (Kanno and Saffitz in Cardiovasc Pathol 10:169-177, 2001; Saez et al. in Physiol Rev 83:1359-1400, 2003), ion homeostasis and volume control (Goldberg et al. in J Biol Chem 277:36725-36730, 2002; Saez et al. in Physiol Rev 83:1359-1400, 2003). They also serve biological functions in a mechanical sense, supporting adherent connections between neighbouring cells of epithelial and non-epithelial tissues (Clair et al. in Exp Cell Res 314:1250-1265, 2008; Shaw et al. in Cell 128:547-560, 2007), where they stabilize migratory pathways in the developing central nervous system (Elias et al. in Nature 448:901-907, 2007; Malatesta et al. in Development 127:5253-5263, 2000; Noctor et al. in Nature 409:714-720, 2001; Rakic in Brain Res 33:471-476, 1971; J Comp Neurol 145:61-83 1972; Science 241:170-176, 1988), or mediate polarized movements and directionality of neural crest cells during organogenesis (Kirby and Waldo in Circ Res 77:211-215, 1995; Xu et al. in Development 133:3629-3639, 2006). Since, most data describing adhesive properties of gap junctions delt with connexin 43 (Cx43) (Beardslee et al. in Circ Res 83:629-635, 1998), we will focus our brief review on this isoform.
Prochnow
Nora
N
Department of Neuroantomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitystreet 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany. nora.prochnow@rub.de
Dermietzel
Rolf
R
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins