title: Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression of pannexin genes in chicken.
abstract: Pannexins (Panx) are a family of proteins that share sequences with the invertebrate gap junction proteins, innexins, and have a similar structure to that of the vertebrate gap junction proteins, connexins. To date, the Panx family consists of 3 members, but their genetic sequences have only been completely determined in a few vertebrate species. Moreover, expression of the Panx family has been reported in several rodent tissues: Panx1 is ubiquitously expressed in mammals, whereas Panx2 and Panx3 expressions are more restricted. Although members of the Panx family have been detected in mammals, their genetic sequences in avian species have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we obtained the full-length mRNA sequences of chicken PANX genes and evaluated the homology of the amino acids from these sequences with those of other species. Furthermore, PANX gene expression in several chicken tissues was investigated based on mRNA levels. PANX1 was detected in the brain, cochlea, chondrocytes, eye, lung, skin, and intestine, and PANX2 was expressed in the brain, eye, and intestine. PANX3 was observed in the cochlea, chondrocytes, and bone. In addition, expression of PANX3 was higher than PANX1 in the cochlea. Immunofluorescent staining revealed PANX1 in hair cells, as well as the supporting cells, ganglion neurons, and the tegmentum vasculosum in chickens, whereas PANX3 was only detected in the bone surrounding the cochlea. Overall, the results of this study provide the first identification and characterization of the sequence and expression of the PANX family in an avian species, and fundamental data for confirmation of Panx function.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Bin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Borum
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sagong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-4539.
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, KNU Creative BioResearch Group (BK21 plus project), Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea kimuk@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Un-Kyung
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 700-721, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Yup
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D017630:Connexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: chicken; cloning; gap junction; inner ear; pannexin