Drosophila Shaking-B protein forms gap junctions in paired Xenopus oocytes

Nature
Pauline PhelanC Ford

Abstract

In most multicellular organisms direct cell-cell communication is mediated by the intercellular channels of gap junctions. These channels allow the exchange of ions and molecules that are believed to be essential for cell signalling during development and in some differentiated tissues. Proteins called connexins, which are products of a multigene family, are the structural components of vertebrate gap junctions. Surprisingly, molecular homologues of the connexins have not been described in any invertebrate. A separate gene family, which includes the Drosophila genes shaking-B and l(1)ogre, and the Caenorhabditis elegans genes unc-7 and eat-5, encodes transmembrane proteins with a predicted structure similar to that of the connexins. shaking-B and eat-5 are required for the formation of functional gap junctions. To test directly whether Shaking-B is a channel protein, we expressed it in paired Xenopus oocytes. Here we show that Shaking-B localizes to the membrane, and that its presence induces the formation of functional intercellular channels. To our knowledge, this is the first structural component of an invertebrate gap junction to be characterized.

References

Oct 1, 1991·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L C BarrioB J Nicholson
Jan 1, 1991·Biophysical Journal·V K VerselisT A Bargiello
Mar 3, 1989·Science·L EbiharaD A Goodenough
Jan 1, 1981·The Journal of General Physiology·D C SprayM V Bennett
Mar 14, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S N KrishnanR J Wyman
Sep 1, 1994·Trends in Genetics : TIG·T M Barnes
Feb 9, 1996·Cell·N M Kumar, N B Gilula
May 15, 1996·European Journal of Biochemistry·R BruzzoneD L Paul
Aug 1, 1996·Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes·K Willecke, S Haubrich

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 10, 1999·Journal of Neurobiology·Z ZhangR J Wyman
May 8, 2001·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·P Phelan, T A Starich
Aug 26, 1999·Hepatology : Official Journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases·R J StockertE L Hertzberg
Nov 7, 2012·Die Naturwissenschaften·Sandra Bloemendal, Ulrich Kück
Sep 14, 2007·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Sarah Hammond, Michael O'Shea
Feb 1, 2008·Journal of Molecular Neuroscience : MN·Jennifer L Orthmann-MurphySteven S Scherer
Oct 14, 1998·Trends in Genetics : TIG·P PhelanR J Wyman
Dec 29, 1998·Trends in Genetics : TIG·M Chalfie, E M Jorgensen
Jun 3, 1999·Gene·K D CurtinR J Wyman
Oct 29, 2004·Nature Reviews. Cancer·Albert de la Chapelle
Jul 15, 2003·Molecular Biology of the Cell·Shaolin LiRichard Roy
Mar 30, 2004·Molecular Biology of the Cell·Reinhard BauerMichael Hoch
Jan 27, 2006·Molecular Biology of the Cell·Corinna LehmannMichael Hoch
Aug 5, 2011·Journal of Virology·N K MarzianoM W Turnbull
Apr 1, 1999·Annual Review of Physiology·T W White, D L Paul
Jul 31, 2013·PloS One·Fabrizio GiulianiCatherine Rabouille
Jun 17, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D H EdwardsF B Krasne
Dec 20, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A RevillaL C Barrio
Mar 16, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J A DentL Avery
Apr 28, 2011·Journal of Insect Science·Kaijun Luo, Matthew W Turnbull
Mar 6, 2013·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Atsunori OshimaYoshinori Fujiyoshi
Jun 18, 2002·Cell Communication & Adhesion·T StarichJ Shaw
Nov 2, 2014·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Nicolás Palacios-PradoAlberto E Pereda
Aug 21, 2010·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Monica MejiaTanja A Godenschwege
May 26, 2007·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·Julio A KovacsMark Yeager
Jan 8, 2014·Scientific Reports·Yasuharu TakakuTakashi Gojobori
Jul 12, 2005·Current Biology : CB·Matthew W TurnbullPauline Phelan
Feb 26, 2004·Neuron·Michael V L Bennett, R Suzanne Zukin
Jun 28, 2006·IUBMB Life·Gerhard Dahl, Silviu Locovei
Aug 30, 2005·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Elena Sivan-Loukianova, Daniel F Eberl
Sep 6, 2005·FEBS Letters·Maria Luisa ChiusanoRosanna del Gaudio
Nov 24, 2007·FEBS Letters·Li BaoGerhard Dahl
Mar 19, 2014·FEBS Letters·Daniel K Hasegawa, Matthew W Turnbull

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.