Abstract

The aim of the proposal is monitoring of gap junction channel activity. A preparation has been developed which allows exposure of cytoplasmic surfaces of membranes that contain gap junctions. The septal membranes of the extracellular clamp methods are used to allow monitoring of gap junction channels.
The specific aims are: (1) Use the patch clamp to record single channels from an exposed cytoplasmic surface when the exposed membrane is known to contain gap junctions. (2) Determine if channel behavior is consistent with known properties of gap junctions. (3) Study the ultrastructure of the dissected preparation to determine if there are any morphological changes in gap junctions. (4) Determine the effects of H+, Ca++ and other agents on channel activity. (5) Study the effects of solvent exchange on the conductive properties of the channels. (6) Determine the selectivity sequence. (7) Use the double voltage clamp as a means of measuring macroscopic behavior.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL031299-06
Application #
3342388
Study Section
Physiology Study Section (PHY)
Project Start
1985-03-01
Project End
1994-02-28
Budget Start
1991-03-01
Budget End
1992-02-29
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794

  Publications

Christ, G J; Brink, P R (1999) Analysis of the presence and physiological relevance of subconducting states of Connexin43-derived gap junction channels in cultured human corporal vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res 84:797-803
Fan, S F; Christ, G J; Melman, A et al. (1999) A stretch-sensitive Cl- channel in human corpus cavernosal myocytes. Int J Impot Res 11:1-7
Christ, G J; Spektor, M; Brink, P R et al. (1999) Further evidence for the selective disruption of intercellular communication by heptanol. Am J Physiol 276:H1911-7
Brink, P R (1998) Gap junctions in vascular smooth muscle. Acta Physiol Scand 164:349-56
Rehman, J; Chenven, E; Brink, P et al. (1997) Diminished neurogenic but not pharmacological erections in the 2- to 3-month experimentally diabetic F-344 rat. Am J Physiol 272:H1960-71
Brink, P R; Cronin, K; Banach, K et al. (1997) Evidence for heteromeric gap junction channels formed from rat connexin43 and human connexin37. Am J Physiol 273:C1386-96
Brink, P R; Ramanan, S V; Christ, G J (1996) Human connexin 43 gap junction channel gating: evidence for mode shifts and/or heterogeneity. Am J Physiol 271:C321-31
Brink, P R (1996) Gap junction channel gating and permselectivity: their roles in co-ordinated tissue function. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 23:1041-6
Brink, P R; Cronin, K; Ramanan, S V (1996) Gap junctions in excitable cells. J Bioenerg Biomembr 28:351-8
Donahue, H J; McLeod, K J; Rubin, C T et al. (1995) Cell-to-cell communication in osteoblastic networks: cell line-dependent hormonal regulation of gap junction function. J Bone Miner Res 10:881-9

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