title: The gap junction proteome and its relationship to disease.
abstract: In recent years our understanding of connexins has advanced from viewing them simply as proteins with a surprisingly short lifespan that form gap junction channels. Connexins are now known to be multifaceted proteins at the core of many multiprotein complexes that link to structural junctional complexes and cytoskeletal elements, and also to the cellular machinery that facilitates their transport, assembly, function and internalization. Collectively, these connexin-binding proteins can be termed the 'gap junction proteome'. The mechanistic understanding of the gap junction proteome with regards to the dynamic life cycle of connexins has grown further in importance in light of the large number of human diseases attributed to connexin gene mutations and regulatory changes in connexin spatial localization and expression levels.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada. Dale.laird@schulich.uwo.ca <Dale.laird@schulich.uwo.ca>
authors: Dale W
authors: DW
authors: Laird
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D020543:Proteome