Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: Although human pannexins (PanX) are homologous to gap junction molecules, their physiological function in vertebrates remains poorly understood. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of PanX1 results in the formation of Ca(2+)-permeable gap junction channels between adjacent cells, thus, allowing direct intercellular Ca(2+) diffusion and facilitating intercellular Ca(2+) wave propagation. More intriguingly, our results strongly suggest that PanX1 may also form Ca(2+)-permeable channels in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These channels contribute to the ER Ca(2+) leak and thereby affect the ER Ca(2+) load. Because leakage remains the most enigmatic of those processes involved in intracellular calcium homeostasis, and the molecular nature of the leak channels is as yet unknown, the results of this work provide new insight into calcium signaling mechanisms. These results imply that for vertebrates, a new protein family, referred to as pannexins, may not simply duplicate the connexin function but may also provide additional pathways for intra- and intercellular calcium signaling and homeostasis.
Source: The Journal of Cell Biology
Institutions: Inserm, La Ligue Contre le Cancer
Language: English
Topic: Connexins and lens biology
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: Intracellular calcium homeostasis and membrane ion channels in smooth muscle explored by laser confocal microscopy and patch clamp: the role in excitation-contraction coupling and regulation of vascular tone., Functional coupling between receptors, receptor-operated channels and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in smooth muscle cells.
OpenAlex ID: W2149352571