title: Connexin30.3 is expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells and is responsive to leukemia inhibitory factor.
abstract: The expression of 19 connexin (Cx) isoforms was observed in the mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell line, EB3. Their expression patterns could be classified into either pluripotent state-specific, differentiating stage-specific, or non-specific Cxs. We focused on Cx30.3 as typical of the first category. Cx30.3 was pluripotent state-specific and upregulated by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a specific cytokine that maintains the pluripotent state of ES cell, via a Jak signaling pathway. Cx30.3 protein was localized to both the cell membrane and cytosol. The dynamic movement of Cx30.3 in the cell membrane was suggested by the imaging analysis by means of overexpressed Cx30.3-EGFP fusion protein. The cytosolic portion was postulated to be a ready-to-use Cx pool. The Cx30.3 expression level in ES cell colonies dramatically decreased immediately after their separation into single cells. It was suggested that mRNA for Cx30.3 and Cx30.3 protein might be decomposed more rapidly than mRNA for Cx43 and Cx43 protein, respectively. These indicate possible involvement of Cx30.3 in the rapid formation and/or decomposition of gap junctions; implying a functional relay between Cx30.3 and other systems such as adhesion proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuma
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiratoko
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kento
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021381:Protein Transport; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C076275:connexin 30.3