title: Post-transcriptional regulation of connexins.
abstract: Gap junctions allow intercellular communication. Their structural subunits are four-transmembrane proteins named connexins (Cxs), which can be post-transcriptionally regulated by developmental and cellular signalling cues. Cx translation and mRNA stability is regulated by miRNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) such as human antigen R (HuR). In addition, several Cxs have also been suggested to contain 5' internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements that are thought to allow cap-independent translation in situations such as mitosis, stress and senescence. Furthermore, several recent reports have documented internal translation of Cx mRNAs that result in N-terminally truncated protein isoforms that may have unique gap junction-independent functions [Ul-Hussain et al. (2008) BMC Mol. Biol. 9, 52; Smyth and Shaw (2013) Cell Rep. 5, 611-618; Salat-Canela et al. (2014) Cell Commun. Signal. 12, 31; Ul-Hussain et al. (2014) J. Biol. Chem. 289, 20979-20990]. This review covers the emerging field of the post-transcriptional regulation of Cxs, with particular focus on the translational control of Cx 43 and its possible functional consequences.
authors.affiliation: *Molecular Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Clàudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salat-Canela
authors.affiliation: *Molecular Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: *Molecular Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sesé
authors.affiliation: *Molecular Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramón y Cajal
authors.affiliation: *Molecular Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aasen
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics*; D017630:Connexins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins