scholarly journals Altered conductance and permeability of Cx40 mutations associated with atrial fibrillation

2015 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Santa Cruz ◽  
Gülistan Meşe ◽  
Laima Valiuniene ◽  
Peter R. Brink ◽  
Thomas W. White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Base Substitution ◽  
Cardiac Tissues ◽  
Gap Junction Channel ◽  
Channel Selectivity ◽  
Mutant Forms

Gap junctions ensure the rapid propagation of the action potential throughout the myocardium. Three mutant forms of connexin40 (Cx40; A96S, M163V, and G38D), the primary component of the atrial gap junction channel, are associated with atrial fibrillation and retain the ability to form functional channels. We determined the biophysical properties of these mutant gap junctions in transiently transfected HeLa and N2A cells. All three mutants showed macroscopic junctional conductances over the range of 0.5 to 40 nS, and voltage dependences comparable to those of wild-type (WT) Cx40. However, the unitary conductance of G38D channels was ∼1.6-fold higher than that of WT Cx40 channels (∼220 vs. ∼135 pS), whereas the unitary conductances of the A96S and M163V mutants were similar to that of WT Cx40. Furthermore, the M163V and G38D channels exhibited approximately two- and approximately fivefold higher permeability to the anionic dye Lucifer yellow (LY) relative to K+ (LY/K+) compared with that of WT Cx40, whereas A96S LY transfer was similar to that of WT (G38D > M163V > A96S ≈ Cx40WT). In contrast, G38D channels were almost impermeable to cationic ethidium bromide (EtBr), suggesting that G38D alters channel selectivity. Conversely, A96S and M163V channels showed enhanced EtBr permeability relative to WT Cx40, with the following permeability order: M163V > A96S > Cx40WT > G38D. Altered conductive and permeability properties of mutant channels suggest an essential role for Cx40-mediated biochemical and electrical coupling in cardiac tissues. The altered properties of the three single-base substitution mutants may play a role in mechanisms of reentry arrhythmias.

Electrical consequences of cardiac myocyte: fibroblast coupling

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa McArthur ◽  
Lisa Chilton ◽  
Godfrey L. Smith ◽  
Stuart A. Nicklin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Cardiac Myocyte ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Ventricular Myocardium ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Cardiac Contraction ◽  
Cx43 Expression ◽  
Gap Junction Channel

Gap junctions are channels which allow electrical signals to propagate through the heart from the sinoatrial node and through the atria, conduction system and onwards to the ventricles, and hence are essential for co-ordinated cardiac contraction. Twelve connexin (Cx) proteins make up one gap junction channel, of which there are three main subtypes in the heart; Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45. In the cardiac myocyte, gap junctions are present mainly at the intercalated discs between neighbouring myocytes, and assist in rapid electrical conduction throughout the ventricular myocardium. Fibroblasts provide the structural skeleton of the myocardium and fibroblast numbers significantly increase in heart disease. Fibroblasts also express connexins and this may facilitate heterocellular electrical coupling between myocytes and fibroblasts in the setting of cardiac disease. Interestingly, cardiac fibroblasts have been demonstrated to increase Cx43 expression in experimental models of myocardial infarction and functional gap junctions between myocytes and fibroblasts have been reported. Therefore, in the setting of heart disease enhanced cardiac myocyte: fibroblast coupling may influence the electrical activity of the myocyte and contribute to arrhythmias.

Cloning and functional expression of a novel gap junction channel from the retina of Danio aquipinnatus

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1137-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.L.E. WAGNER ◽  
E.C. BEYER ◽  
D.G. McMAHON
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Blot Hybridization ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Functional Expression ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Gap Junction Channel ◽  
Giant Danio

Electrical synapses, or gap junctions, are widely distributed in the vertebrate retina and are thought to play critical roles in the transmission and coding of visual signals. To investigate the molecular basis of this form of neural communication in the retina, we have isolated, characterized, and functionally expressed a cDNA for a gap junction channel derived from the retina of the teleost fish Danio aquipinnatus (giant danio). The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1146 nucleotides encoding a connexin with a predicted molecular mass of 43.3 kDa which shared extensive identity with Rattus norvegicus Cx43 (78%). This protein (DACX43) contained several consensus phosphorylation sequences in the c-terminal region, some of which are conserved among Cx43 orthologs. RNA blot hybridization revealed that DACX43 was expressed in the brain as well as in the retina. In addition, Southern analysis suggested that there are multiple copies of DACX43, or other closely related sequences, in the Danio aquipinnatus genome. When DACX43 was expressed by stable transfection in gap-junction-deficient mouse N2A neuroblastoma cells, functional gap junctions were formed as indicated by dual whole-cell recordings of electrical coupling. We conclude that DACX43 is a connexin43 ortholog, which is expressed in the retina of Danio aquipinnatus, and when translated is able to form functional gap junction channels.

Freeze-fracture studies of frog atrial fibres

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-434
Author(s):  
F. Mazet ◽  
J. Cartaud
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Freeze Fracturing ◽  
Morphological Variant ◽  
Characteristic Features

The freeze-fracturing technique was used to characterize the junctional devices involved in the electrical coupling of frog atrial fibres. These fibres are connected by a type of junction which can be interpreted as a morphological variant of the “gap junction” or “nexus”. The most characteristic features are rows of 9-nm junctional particles forming single or anastomosed circular profiles on the inner membrane face, and corresponding pits on the outer membrane face. Very seldom aggregates consisting of few geometrically disposed 9-nm particles are found. The significance of the junctional structures in the atrial fibres is discussed, with respect to present knowledge about junctional features of gap junctions in various tissues, including embryonic ones.

Electrically coupled pacemaker neurons respond differently to same physiological inputs and neurotransmitters

1984 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1362-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Marder ◽  
J. S. Eisen
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Panulirus Interruptus ◽  
Bursting Neuron ◽  
Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Pyloric Dilator ◽  
Muscarinic Cholinergic

The two pyloric dilator (PD) motor neurons and the single anterior burster (AB) interneuron are electrically coupled and together comprise the pacemaker for the pyloric central pattern generator of the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster, Panulirus interruptus. Previous work (31) has shown that the AB neuron is an endogenously bursting neuron, while the PD neuron is a conditional burster. In this paper the effects of physiological inputs and neurotransmitters on isolated PD neurons and AB neurons were studied using the lucifer yellow photoinactivation technique (33). Stimulation of the inferior ventricular nerve (IVN) fibers at high frequencies elicits a triphasic response in AB and PD neurons: a rapid excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) followed by a slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), followed by an enhancement of the pacemaker slow-wave depolarizations. Photoinactivation experiments indicate that the enhancement of the slow wave is due primarily to actions of the IVN fibers on the PD neurons but not on the AB neuron. Bath-applied dopamine dramatically alters the motor output of the pyloric system. Photoinactivation experiments show that 10(-4) M dopamine increases the amplitude and frequency of the slow-wave depolarizations recorded in the AB neurons but hyperpolarizes and inhibits the PD neurons. Bath-applied serotonin increases the frequency and amplitude of the slow-wave depolarizations in the AB neuron but has no effect on PD neurons. Pilocarpine, a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, stimulates slow-wave depolarization production in both PD neurons and the AB neuron, but the waveform and frequency of the slow waves elicited are quite different. These results show that although the electrically coupled PD and AB neurons always depolarize synchronously and act together as the pacemaker for the pyloric system, they respond differently to a neuronal input and to several putative neuromodulators. Thus, despite electrical coupling sufficient to ensure synchronous activity, the PD and AB neurons can be modulated independently.

Dynamic behavior of gap junctions in each cardiac cycle: A novel view on the electrical coupling of normal cadiocytes

2006 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somayeh Mahdavi ◽  
Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani ◽  
Shahriar Gharibzadeh ◽  
Farzad Towhidkhah
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Cardiac Cycle ◽  
Electrical Coupling

scholarly journals Gap junction structures after experimental alteration of junctional channel conductance.

1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 1741-1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
T M Miller ◽  
D A Goodenough
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Electron Micrographs ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Experimental Alteration ◽  
Quick Freezing

Gap junctions are known to present a variety of different morphologies in electron micrographs and x-ray diffraction patterns. This variation in structure is not only seen between gap junctions in different tissues and organisms, but also within a given tissue. In an attempt to understand the physiological meaning of some aspects of this variability, gap junction structure was studied following experimental manipulation of junctional channel conductance. Both physiological and morphological experiments were performed on gap junctions joining stage 20-23 chick embryo lens epithelial cells. Channel conductance was experimentally altered by using five different experimental manipulations, and assayed for conductance changes by observing the intercellular diffusion of Lucifer Yellow CH. All structural measurements were made on electron micrographs of freeze-fracture replicas after quick-freezing of specimens from the living state; for comparison, aldehyde-fixed specimens were measured as well. Analysis of the data generated as a result of this study revealed no common statistically significant changes in the intrajunctional packing of connexons in the membrane plane as a result of experimental alteration of junctional channel conductance, although some of the experimental manipulations used to alter junctional conductance did produce significant structural changes. Aldehyde fixation caused a dramatic condensation of connexon packing, a result not observed with any of the five experimental uncoupling conditions over the 40-min time course of the experiments.

scholarly journals A high-density narrow-field inhibitory retinal interneuron with direct coupling to Müller glia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William N Grimes ◽  
Didem Göz Aytürk ◽  
Mrinalini Hoon ◽  
Takeshi Yoshimatsu ◽  
Clare Gamlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Amacrine Cell ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Muller Glia ◽  
Müller Glia ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Mammalian Retina ◽  
Ganglion Neurons

AbstractAmacrine cells are interneurons comprising the most diverse cell type in the mammalian retina. They help encode visual features such as edges or directed motion by mediating excitatory and inhibitory interactions between input (i.e. bipolar) and output (i.e. ganglion) neurons in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Like other brain regions, the retina also contains glial cells that contribute to neurotransmitter uptake, neurovascular control and metabolic regulation. Here, we report that a previously poorly characterized, but relatively abundant, inhibitory amacrine cell type in the mouse retina is coupled directly to Müller glia. Electron microscopic reconstructions of this amacrine type revealed extensive associations with Müller glia, whose processes often completely ensheathe the neurites of this amacrine cell type. Microinjections of small tracer molecules into the somas of these amacrine cells led to selective labelling of nearby Müller glia, leading us to suggest the name “Müller glia-coupled amacrine cell” or MAC. Our electrophysiological data also indicate that MACs release glycine at conventional chemical synapses with amacrine, bipolar and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and viral transsynaptic tracing showed connections to several known RGC types. Visually-evoked responses revealed a strong preference for light increments; these “ON” responses were primarily mediated by excitatory chemical synaptic input and direct electrical coupling to other cells. This initial characterization of the MAC provides the first evidence for neuron-glia coupling in the mammalian retina and identifies the MAC as a potential link between inhibitory processing and glial function.Significance StatementGap junctions between pairs of neurons or glial cells are commonly found throughout the nervous system, and play a myriad of roles including electrical coupling and metabolic exchange. In contrast, gap junctions between neurons and glia cells are rare and poorly understood. Here we report the first evidence for neuron-glia coupling in the mammalian retina, specifically between an abundant (but previously unstudied) inhibitory interneuron and Müller glia.

Innexin-3 forms connexin-like intercellular channels

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (14) ◽  
pp. 2391-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Landesman ◽  
T.W. White ◽  
T.A. Starich ◽  
J.E. Shaw ◽  
D.A. Goodenough ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Gap Junction ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Xenopus Oocytes ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Gap Junction Channel ◽  
Intercellular Channels

Innexins comprise a large family of genes that are believed to encode invertebrate gap junction channel-forming proteins. However, only two Drosophila innexins have been directly tested for the ability to form intercellular channels and only one of those was active. Here we tested the ability of Caenorhabditis elegans family members INX-3 and EAT-5 to form intercellular channels between paired Xenopus oocytes. We show that expression of INX-3 but not EAT-5, induces electrical coupling between the oocyte pairs. In addition, analysis of INX-3 voltage and pH gating reveals a striking degree of conservation in the functional properties of connexin and innnexin channels. These data strongly support the idea that innexin genes encode intercellular channels.

The distribution of non-synaptic intercellular junctions during neurone differentiation in the developing spinal cord of the clawed toad

Development ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-417
Author(s):  
Brian P. Hayes ◽  
Alan Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Neural Differentiation ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Ependymal Cells ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Ventricular Cells ◽  
Vertebrate Embryos ◽  
Developing Spinal Cord

The distribution of intercellular junctions, other than synapses and their precursors, has beendescribed in the developing spinal cord of Xenopus laevis between the neurula andfree swimming tadpole stages. At the neurocoel, ventricular cells are joined in the apical contactzone by a sequence of junctions which usually has one or more intermediate junctions but often also includes close appositions, gap junctions and desmosomes. This apical complex is more diverse than that reported in other vertebrate embryos and between ependymal cells in the adult central nervous system. Gap junctions are also found between ventricular cells and their processes near the external cord surface. However, no other special junctions occur in this location under the basementlamella which surrounds the cord. Punctate intermediate junctions are generally distributed between undifferentiated and differentiating cells and their processes but were not found in neuropil after stage 28. These results are discussed in relation to cell movements during neural differentiation, possible effects on the freedom of movement of ions and molecules through extracellular pathways in the embryo, and possible intercytoplasmic pathways via gap junctions which may be responsible for the physiologically observed electrical coupling between neural tube cells.

scholarly journals TGF-β1 facilitates cell–cell communication in osteocytes via connexin43- and pannexin1-dependent gap junctions

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Liu ◽  
Demao Zhang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Liwei Zheng ◽  
Chen Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication ◽  
Tgf Β1 ◽  
Cell Cell

Abstract Connexins and pannexins are two families of channel forming proteins that are able to pass small molecules to achieve communication between cells. While connexins have been recognized to mediate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), pannexins are far less known. Our previous study reported the potential role of TGF-β1 in mediating of connexins in osteocytes in vitro. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the influence of TGF-β1 on cell–cell communication based on gap junctions assembled by connexins and pannexins in vitro and ex vivo. We first showed that TGF-β1 positively affected the elongation of dendritic processes of osteocytes. Our data indicated that TGF-β1 increased expressions of connexin43 (Cx43) and pannexin1 (panx1), which are indispensable for hemichannel formation in gap junctions, in osteocytes in vitro and ex vivo. TGF-β1 enhanced gap junction formation and impacted cell–cell communication in living osteocytes, as indicated by the scrape loading and Lucifer yellow transfer assays. TGF-β1 enhanced the expressions of Cx43 and panx1 via activation of ERK1/2 and Smad3/4 signalling. The TGF-β1-restored expressions of Cx43 and panx1 in osteocytes in the presence of an ERK inhibitor, U0126, further demonstrated the direct participation of Smad3/4 signalling. TGF-β1 increased the accumulation of Smad3 in the nuclear region (immunofluorescence assay) and promoted the enrichment of Smad3 at the binding sites of the promoters of Gja1 (Cx43) and Panx1 (ChIP assay), thereby initiating the enhanced gene expression. These results provide a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of cell–cell communication in osteocytes induced by TGF-β1.

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