PubMed · 1707811
Cell/cell channel formation involves disulfide exchange.
Abstract
The oocyte cell/cell-channel assay was used to identify amino acids involved in the process of cell/cell-channel formation. The expression of the rat liver gap-junction protein, connexin 32, in single oocytes, results in the accumulation of a pool of channel precursors. Upon pairing of such oocytes, cell/cell channels form rapidly from this pool. The rate of formation is affected by thiol-specific reagents and the pH. This suggests the involvement of extracellular cysteine residues in the channel formation process. Two connexin-32 mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis in which cysteine residues were replaced by serine. Both mutant connexins were unable to form cell/cell channels. Thus, the cysteine residues appear to play an important role in the channel formation process.
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G Dahl, E Levine, C Rabadan-Diehl, R Werner. 1991-04-10. Cell/cell channel formation involves disulfide exchange.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1991.tb15892.x
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