scholarly journals Evidence That Dorsal–Ventral Differences in Gap Junctional Communication in the EarlyXenopusEmbryo Are Generated by β-Catenin Independent of Cell Adhesion Effects

1998 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Krufka ◽  
Ross G. Johnson ◽  
Chris C. Wylie ◽  
Janet Heasman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Gap Junctional

scholarly journals Differential phosphorylation of the gap junction protein connexin43 in junctional communication-competent and -deficient cell lines.

1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 2077-2088 ◽  
Author(s):  
L S Musil ◽  
B A Cunningham ◽  
G M Edelman ◽  
D A Goodenough
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
Competent Cells ◽  
Deficient Cell ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Gap Junctional ◽  
Cell Cell

Connexin43 is a member of the highly homologous connexin family of gap junction proteins. We have studied how connexin monomers are assembled into functional gap junction plaques by examining the biosynthesis of connexin43 in cell types that differ greatly in their ability to form functional gap junctions. Using a combination of metabolic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation, we have shown that connexin43 is synthesized in gap junctional communication-competent cells as a 42-kD protein that is efficiently converted to a approximately 46-kD species (connexin43-P2) by the posttranslational addition of phosphate. Surprisingly, certain cell lines severely deficient in gap junctional communication and known cell-cell adhesion molecules (S180 and L929 cells) also expressed 42-kD connexin43. Connexin43 in these communication-deficient cell lines was not, however, phosphorylated to the P2 form. Conversion of S180 cells to a communication-competent phenotype by transfection with a cDNA encoding the cell-cell adhesion molecule L-CAM induced phosphorylation of connexin43 to the P2 form; conversely, blocking junctional communication in ordinarily communication-competent cells inhibited connexin43-P2 formation. Immunohistochemical localization studies indicated that only communication-competent cells accumulated connexin43 in visible gap junction plaques. Together, these results establish a strong correlation between the ability of cells to process connexin43 to the P2 form and to produce functional gap junctions. Connexin43 phosphorylation may therefore play a functional role in gap junction assembly and/or activity.

Manipulation of gap junctional communication during compaction of the mouse early embryo

Development ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-296
Author(s):  
Harry Goodall
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Embryonal Carcinoma Cell ◽  
Cell Coupling ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
Embryonal Carcinoma Cell Line ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Junctional Coupling ◽  
Gap Junctional

Three treatments that prevent cell flattening during compaction of the mouse preimplantation embryo were assessed for their effects on the onset of gap junctional communication. Medium low in calcium (LCM) and an antiserum to an embryonal carcinoma cell line (anti-EC; Johnson et al. 1979) both prevented the establishment of coupling between blastomeres of the 8-cell embryo as assessed by transmission of carboxyfluorescein or by ionic coupling. Since neither of these agents prevents the contact-mediated induction of cell polarity that occurs at this stage, it is concluded that the induction of this process is not signalled via gap junctions. A monoclonal antibody (ECCD-1; Yoshida-Noro, Suzuki & Takeichi, 1984), that recognizes more specific components of the calcium-dependent cell adhesion system, failed to prevent the onset of junctional coupling. This suggests that the onset of junctional coupling is not dependent upon extensive cell apposition and that the requirement for extracellular Ca2+ resides at a level other than that of cell adhesion. Moreover, neither LCM nor anti-EC could reverse cell coupling once it had become established despite their complete reversal of cell flattening.

An inhibition of gap-junctional communication by cadherins

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
B. Rose
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecules ◽  
Hepatoma Cells ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
L Cells ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Gap Junctional ◽  
Cell Cell

The action of Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules (cadherins) on cell-to-cell channel-mediated intercellular communication was investigated in mouse L and rat Morris hepatoma cells. These cells fail to adhere to one another in aggregation assays and thus seem to lack cell adhesion molecules. Expression of exogenous cadherin induced strong cell-cell adhesion in both cell types, but had opposite effects of communication, causing inhibition in L cells and improvement in hepatoma cells. Both cells express the connexin43 cell-to-cell channel protein. By western blot we found no cadherin-specific changes in connexin43 protein in either cell type, but connexin43 gap junctional plaque staining, i.e. connexin43 localization to cell-cell junctions, was inhibited in L cells and facilitated in hepatoma cells. In addition we found that the inhibitory effect is largely abolished by blockers of glycosylation. Cadherin-cadherin interactions are known to trigger cell type-specific intracellular signal cascades resulting in diverse end effects, and gap junctional communication/plaque formation seems a further example of such cell type-specificity.

Gap junction-mediated transfer of left-right patterning signals in the early chick blastoderm is upstream of Shh asymmetry in the node

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (21) ◽  
pp. 4703-4714 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Levin ◽  
M. Mercola
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Chick Blastoderm ◽  
Gap Junction Channels ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
The Right ◽  
Gap Junctional

Invariant patterning of left-right asymmetry during embryogenesis depends upon a cascade of inductive and repressive interactions between asymmetrically expressed genes. Different cascades of asymmetric genes distinguish the left and right sides of the embryo and are maintained by a midline barrier. As such, the left and right sides of an embryo can be viewed as distinct and autonomous fields. Here we describe a series of experiments that indicate that the initiation of these programs requires communication between the two sides of the blastoderm. When deprived of either the left or the right lateral halves of the blastoderm, embryos are incapable of patterning normal left-right gene expression at Hensen's node. Not only are both flanks required, suggesting that there is no single signaling source for LR pattern, but the blastoderm must be intact. These results are consistent with our previously proposed model in which the orientation of LR asymmetry in the frog, Xenopus laevis, depends on large-scale partitioning of LR determinants through intercellular gap junction channels (M. Levin and M. Mercola (1998) Developmental Biology 203, 90–105). Here we evaluate whether gap junctional communication is required for the LR asymmetry in the chick, where it is possible to order early events relative to the well-characterized left and right hierarchies of gene expression. Treatment of cultured chick embryos with lindane, which diminishes gap junctional communication, frequently unbiased normal LR asymmetry of Shh and Nodal gene expression, causing the normally left-sided program to be recapitulated symmetrically on the right side of the embryo. A survey of early expression of connexin mRNAs revealed that Cx43 is present throughout the blastoderm at Hamburger-Hamilton stage 2–3, prior to known asymmetric gene expression. Application of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides or blocking antibody to cultured embryos also resulted in bilateral expression of Shh and Nodal transcripts. Importantly, the node and primitive streak at these stages lack Cx43 mRNA. This result, together with the requirement for an intact blastoderm, suggests that the path of communication through gap junction channels circumvents the node and streak. We propose that left-right information is transferred unidirectionally throughout the epiblast by gap junction channels in order to pattern left-sided Shh expression at Hensen's node.

Syncytial organization of cultured rat mesangial cells

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (6) ◽  
pp. F848-F855 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Iijima ◽  
L. C. Moore ◽  
M. S. Goligorsky
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Mesangial Cells ◽  
Calcium Waves ◽  
Oxygen Intermediates ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Fura 2 ◽  
Gap Junctional Communication ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Gap Junctional

To investigate communication competence of cultured rat mesangial cells, Lucifer yellow transfer was studied using microinjection and scrape-loading techniques. Both methods yielded results indicating considerable gap junctional communication between cultured mesangial cells. Gap junctional communication between mesangial cells was upregulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Conversely, cell-to-cell communication was attenuated by exposure to the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate, the Ca ionophore ionomycin, reduced oxygen intermediates, and cell acidification. Expression of voltage gated calcium channels by mesangial cells was studied microspectrofluorimetrically using fura-2 fluorescence. KCl-induced depolarization, BAY-K 8644, and readdition of calcium to Ca-free depolarizing medium all produced a nifedipine-inhibitable increase in cytosolic calcium concentration. The existence of voltage-gated calcium channels in communication-competent cells suggests the possibility of propagation of depolarizing signals across the syncytium. This was studied by microapplication of KCl to the microenvironment of a single cell and monitoring fura-2 fluorescence in remote cells. This maneuver resulted in propagating calcium waves in communication-competent monolayers; calcium waves could not be evoked in monolayers exposed to an alkanol-type gap junction uncoupler, octanol. It is concluded that cultured rat mesangial cells form a syncytium capable of propagating calcium transients from a single depolarized cell to its coupled neighbors.

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