title: A molecular imaging analysis of Cx43 association with Cdo during skeletal myoblast differentiation.
abstract: Cell-to-cell contacts are crucial for cell differentiation. The promyogenic cell surface protein, Cdo, functions as a component of multiprotein clusters to mediate cell adhesion signaling. Connexin 43, the main connexin forming gap junctions, also plays a key role in myogenesis. At least part of its effects is independent of the intercellular channel function, but the mechanisms underlying are unknown. Here, using multiple optical approaches, we provided the first evidence that Cx43 physically interacts with Cdo to form dynamic complexes during myoblast differentiation, offering clues for considering this interaction a structural basis of the channel-independent function of Cx43.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Anatomia, Istologia e Medicina Legale, Università di Firenze, Largo Brambilla 3 - Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nosi
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercatelli
authors.forename: Flaminia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chellini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Formigli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quercioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: C510744:Cdon protein, mouse; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018031:Connexin 43