Intracellular communication mediated by gap junctions is thought to underli a number of crucial cell behaviors. These include the spread of electrical and hormonal signals among populations of cells and regulation of growth an development. DNA cloning indicates that there are a number of related gap junction proteins, which we generically call connexins. 1) The functional properties of gap junctions formed from many of the identified connexins have not been described. We will use an in vitro expression system consisting of pairs of voltage clamped Xenopus oocytes to study those properties. Hybrid proteins will be functionally expressed to identify protein domains that control different behavior. 2) The identity of gap junction proteins in the lens remains unclear. There are reports suggestin that a 26 kD protein (MP26) and a 70 kD protein (MP70 are gap junction structural proteins. In addition, we have cloned CDNA for what may be another gap junction protein in lens. We will make antibodies to this new protein and determine its distribution. We will clone cDNA for MP70 to determine its relationship to MP26 and other possible gap junction proteins 3) We have identified a gap junction protein whose mRNA is present only in Xenopus early embryos. We will determine the spatial and temporal expression of the protein and attempt to modulate its expression in early Xenopus embryos. 4) We will clone cDNAs coding for gap junction proteins in Drosophila. The powerful techniques available for the manipulation of gene expression in this organism will permit close examination of possible roles of gap junctional communication in growth and development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM037751-05
Application #
3293408
Study Section
Cellular Biology and Physiology Subcommittee 1 (CBY)
Project Start
1986-12-01
Project End
1994-11-30
Budget Start
1990-12-01
Budget End
1991-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Hou, Mingli; Li, Yaqiao; Paul, David L (2013) A novel, highly sensitive method for assessing gap junctional coupling. J Neurosci Methods 220:18-23
Beaumont, Michael; Maccaferri, Gianmaria (2011) Is connexin36 critical for GABAergic hypersynchronization in the hippocampus? J Physiol 589:1663-80
Postma, Friso; Liu, Cheng-Hang; Dietsche, Caitlin et al. (2011) Electrical synapses formed by connexin36 regulate inhibition- and experience-dependent plasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:13770-5
Brown, Timothy M; Allen, Annette E; Wynne, Jonathan et al. (2011) Visual responses in the lateral geniculate evoked by Cx36-independent rod pathways. Vision Res 51:280-7
Chai, Zhifang; Goodenough, Daniel A; Paul, David L (2011) Cx50 requires an intact PDZ-binding motif and ZO-1 for the formation of functional intercellular channels. Mol Biol Cell 22:4503-12
Magnotti, Laura M; Goodenough, Daniel A; Paul, David L (2011) Deletion of oligodendrocyte Cx32 and astrocyte Cx43 causes white matter vacuolation, astrocyte loss and early mortality. Glia 59:1064-74
Magnotti, Laura M; Goodenough, Daniel A; Paul, David L (2011) Functional heterotypic interactions between astrocyte and oligodendrocyte connexins. Glia 59:26-34
Pan, Feng; Paul, David L; Bloomfield, Stewart A et al. (2010) Connexin36 is required for gap junctional coupling of most ganglion cell subtypes in the mouse retina. J Comp Neurol 518:911-27
Imbeault, Sophie; Gauvin, Lianne G; Toeg, Hadi D et al. (2009) The extracellular matrix controls gap junction protein expression and function in postnatal hippocampal neural progenitor cells. BMC Neurosci 10:13
Hou, Jianghui; Renigunta, Aparna; Gomes, Antonio S et al. (2009) Claudin-16 and claudin-19 interaction is required for their assembly into tight junctions and for renal reabsorption of magnesium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:15350-5

Showing the most recent 10 out of 79 publications