A dominant connexin43 mutant does not have dominant effects on gap junction coupling in astrocytes

Neuron Glia Biol. 2010 Nov;6(4):213-23. doi: 10.1017/S1740925X11000019. Epub 2011 Mar 4.

Abstract

Dominant mutations in GJA1, the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43), cause oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD), a syndrome affecting multiple tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated the effects of the G60S mutant, which causes a similar, dominant phenotype in mice (Gja1(Jrt/+)). Astrocytes in acute brain slices from Gja1(Jrt/+) mice transfer sulforhodamine-B comparably to that in their wild-type (WT) littermates. Further, astrocytes and cardiomyocytes cultured from Gja1(Jrt/+) mice showed a comparable transfer of lucifer yellow to those from WT mice. In transfected cells, the G60S mutant formed gap junction (GJ) plaques but not functional channels. In co-transfected cells, the G60S mutant co-immunoprecipitated with WT Cx43, but did not diminish GJ coupling as measured by dual patch clamp. Thus, whereas G60S has dominant effects, it did not appreciably reduce GJ coupling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Astrocytes / physiology*
  • Astrocytes / ultrastructure
  • Biophysics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Connexin 43 / genetics*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Gap Junctions / genetics
  • Gap Junctions / physiology*
  • Gap Junctions / ultrastructure
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Membrane Potentials / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Connexin 43
  • GJA1 protein, mouse
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins