Nature of plasmalemmal functional 鈥渉emichannels鈥?/span>
- 作者：Eliana Scemes ; eliana.scemes@einstein.yu.edu
- 关键词：Connexons ; Pannexons ; Panx1 channels ; Cx43 hemichannel ; Hemichannel assignment ; Hemichannel properties
- 刊名：Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/Biomembranes
- 出版年：2012
- 期刊代码：14_00052736
- 类别：bio
- 出版时间：August, 2012
- 卷：1818
- 期：8
- 页码：1880-1883
- 文件大小：164 K
摘要
The molecular identity of the protein forming 鈥渉emichannels鈥?at non-junctional membranes is disputed. The family of gap junction proteins, innexins, connexins, and pannexins share several common features, including permeability characteristics and sensitivity to blocking agents. Such overlap in properties renders the identification of which of these protein species actually establishes the non-junctional membrane conductance and permeability quite complicated, especially because in vertebrates pannexins and connexins have largely overlapping distributions in tissues. Recently, attempts to establish criteria to identify events that are 鈥渉emichannel鈥?mediated and those to allow the distinction between connexin- from pannexin-mediated events have been proposed.
Here, I present an update on that topic and discuss the most recent findings related to the nature of functional 鈥渉emichannels鈥?focusing on connexin43 and pannexin1. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Communicating junctions, composition, structure and characteristics.