Cx26基因重表达抑制人鼻咽癌细胞系HNE1的恶性增殖

间隙连接蛋白 (Cx)基因在胚胎发育、细胞生长、分化以及细胞内环境的稳定过程中起重要调节作用 .肿瘤发生与Cx基因的表达及功能异常密切相关 ,肿瘤细胞常存在Cx基因表达下调或缺失 .将人Cx2 6基因编码区cDNA序列 ,亚克隆于真核表达载体pcDNA3 1(+) ,采用脂质体转染 ,将重组表达载体pcDNA3 1(+) Cx2 6转入鼻咽癌细胞系HNE1,使Cx2 6基因在HNE1中重表达 ,探讨Cx2 6基因对鼻咽癌细胞系HNE1的生物学功能的影响 .研究结果表明 :Cx2 6基因的重表达 ,抑制HNE1细胞生长 ,细胞周期阻滞于G0 G1期 ,HNE1细胞的克隆形成能力下降 ,裸鼠致瘤能力减弱 .     

人类连接蛋白基因Cx26的上游调控部位

人类连接蛋白２６（Ｃｏｎｎｅｘｉｎ ２６,Ｃｘ２６）已被看作乳腺癌上皮细胞中的抑瘤基因候选者．为了阐明此基因的调控机理,对其转译起始点上游的一个具有启动功能的１．６ ｋｂ 片段采用ｅｘｏ Ⅲ构建１０个单向删除重组体后进行了ＣＡＴ报告基因分析．结果表明,此１．６ ｋｂ 片段其启动子功能部位位于５′端２００ ｂｐ 范围内．其中含有－ＴＧＴ盒（位于１８２～１８７ ｂｐ）,一个ＴＴＡＡＡＡ 盒位于１５８～１６３ ｂｐ,这是人类Ｃｘ２６基因的又一启动区,这些发现无疑地对了解和阐明Ｃｘ２６基因在乳腺发育过程中及其病理生理作用的复杂调控具有特别重要的意义．     

人类连接蛋白基因Cx26的新调控区序列

人类连接蛋白２６基因（ｃｏｎｎｅｘｉｎ２６,Ｃｘ２６）已被看作乳腺癌上皮细胞中的抑瘤基因候选者。为了阐明此基因的调控机理,本文对其转译起始点上游的一个ＤＮａｓｅ１超敏区片段１．６ｋｂ进行了序列分析和ＣＡＴ报告基因分析。结果表明此１．６ｋｂ片段具有强效启动子功能,其中含有两个ＧＴ盒（分别位于－６１５８ｂｐ和－６２１３ｂｐ）,一个非ＴＡＴＡ的ＴＴＡＡＡＡ盒位于－６２３７ｂｐ,这是在人类Ｃｘ２６基因中新发现的第二个启动区。     

缝隙连接蛋白Connexin 26在乳腺导管上皮癌变中的调节作用

目的研究缝隙连接蛋白Connexin 26（Cx26）与乳腺癌发生的相关性。方法选取手术切除的人乳腺导管内癌和浸润性导管癌标本88例,应用免疫组化S-P法及Western blot研究癌组织和癌旁组织中Cx26蛋白表达,统计学分析癌组织和癌旁组织中Cx26蛋白表达的差异,探讨Cx26表达与乳腺癌发生的相关性。结果癌旁组织中Cx26蛋白弥散于细胞浆中,在癌组织中Cx26蛋白明显减弱或消失,卡方检验表明Cx26蛋白在乳腺癌组织和癌旁组织中的表达差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,Western blot结果亦清楚显示在癌组织中Cx26蛋白表达减弱（P〈0．001）。结论Cx26蛋白减弱或缺失参与调控乳腺导管癌的发生过程。     

外周神经胶质细胞缝隙连接的表达与功能调控

缝隙连接是胞间通道的集合体,是相邻细胞间的跨膜通道。连接蛋白Cx29、Cx32和Cx46在施万细胞中表达,Cx43在施万细胞和卫星胶质细胞中均有表达,并形成功能性的缝隙连接通道或半通道。缝隙连接蛋白直接或间接参与细胞信号整合,借助连接蛋白磷酸化及定向突变研究,其分子调控机制逐步清晰。施万细胞和卫星胶质细胞中连接蛋白及其磷酸化的阐明,有助于解释其在外周神经胶质中的表达与功能调控。     

非综合征性耳聋(NSHL)患者Cx26基因突变分析及两种突变体的亚细胞定位

为分析中国人群非综合征性耳聋(Nonsyndromic hearing loss, NSHL)患者Cx26基因的突变情况和特性, 研究其中两种突变的亚细胞定位情况, 文章运用PCR直接测序的方法对139例无亲缘关系的NSHL患者进行突变筛查, 将两种突变p.F115C和p.V37I构建到pEGFP表达载体, 并转染Hela细胞, 研究其细胞表达和定位情况。在139例无亲缘关系的NSHL患者中, 31例患者检测到Cx26基因突变, 检出率为22.3%。一共检测到10种不同类型的碱基变异, 包括6种突变和4种多态, 其中包括1种未见报道的新变异p.F115C。p.F115C和p.V37I两种突变体转染Hela细胞后, 亚细胞定位情况与野生型无差异, 初步研究表明这两种突变不影响该蛋白形成细胞间隙连接通道。     

间隙连接分子Cx43相关蛋白及其功能研究进展

间隙连接是细胞间直接进行信息交流的唯一膜通道结构。Cx43是构成间隙连接中分布最广、研究最多的间隙连接分子,目前运用免疫共沉淀、免疫荧光共定位、pull-down以及酵母双杂交等多种方法研究发现了众多的Cx43相关蛋白。这些蛋白通过与Cx43相互作用在间隙连接蛋白的组装、运输、膜定位,间隙连接通道的形成以及对间隙连接通讯的调控等一系列过程中均发挥十分重要的作用。本文就目前已经研究发现的Cx43相关蛋白及其最新的功能研究进展进行综述。     

癌细胞逆转过程中N-cadherin与间隙连接蛋白Cx43功能表达的关系

钙粘合蛋白 (N cadherin ,N cad)在人肺癌细胞的表达明显低于正常人肺细胞 .肺癌细胞的间隙连接通讯功能缺陷 ,连接蛋白Cx43表达抑制 .Cx43cDNA转染肺癌细胞的 4个阳性克隆其Cx43蛋白表达升高水平相近 ,但通讯功能有差别 ,与各克隆N cad的表达水平有正相关性 .N cad表达高的克隆Cx43在膜间隙连接的分布和通讯功能最明显 ,细胞分化改善 ,在裸鼠体内生长抑制 (抑制率 75 % )有显著性 .反之N cad表达低的克隆Cx43在膜间隙连接不明显 ,细胞通讯功能弱 ,恶性表型无逆转 .提示N cad与Cx43转录后表达过程的调节密切相关 ,两者介导的粘合和通讯功能有协同促进肺癌细胞逆转的作用 .     

贯叶连翘提取物对扩张型心肌病大鼠缝隙连接蛋白Cx43的影响

目的:研究贯叶连翘提取物(HPE)对扩张型心肌病(DCM)大鼠心肌缝隙连接蛋白Cx43表达的作用。方法:以腹腔注射阿霉素建立DCM大鼠模型为基础,分析心肌缝隙连接蛋白(Cx43)表达差异性。结果:治疗组大鼠Cx43蛋白以及Cx43mRNA显著高于模型组。结论:HPE可能通过对Cx43受体敏感性的调节而改变Cx43表达,改善DCM大鼠心功能。     

间隙连接蛋白Cx43在人胚肺和肺癌细胞表达的研究

细胞与细胞之间通过细胞膜上的间隙连接通道交换小分子和离子进行细胞间通讯,对细胞增殖分化调控和机体内环境稳定有重要作用。用间隙连接蛋白Ｃｘ４３ｃＤＮＡ探针Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹杂交,Ｃｘ４３抗体免疫荧光染色和罗氏黄荧光染料传输方法检查,正常人胚肺细胞的Ｃｘ４３在ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白水平有高表达,Ｃｘ４３蛋白免疫荧光分布在间隙连接的部位,细胞间隙连接通讯功能明显。与正常相反,人肺癌ＰＧ系细胞Ｃｋ４３无论在ｍＲＮＡ或蛋白质水平都无表达,细胞通讯功能缺陷。结果表明Ｃｘ４３在培养的人胚肺细胞有功能性表达。人肺癌ＰＧ细胞通讯功能缺陷与Ｃｘ４３基因转录抑制有关。对Ｃｘ基因的抑癌基因性质进行讨论。     

骨组织细胞Cx43形成的间隙连接及半通道研究进展

连接子蛋43（connexin 43,Cx43）是骨组织中主要的间隙连接（gap junction）蛋白和半通道（hemichannel）蛋白,由Cx43形成的间隙连接及半通道实现了骨组织细胞间的直接通讯。连接子蛋白对骨组织的正常发育、骨重建过程的建立与平衡是非常重要的。目前研究指出,Cx43不仅参与了骨组织的力学响应过程,也参与了二磷酸盐、甲状旁腺激素等药物对骨重建的调节过程。该文以骨组织细胞内信号传递途径的关键分子Cx43为对象,就其目前的研究现状作一综述。     

Dual Functions for Connexins: Cx43 Regulates Growth Independently of Gap Junction Formation

Connexins, the family of proteins that form vertebrate gap junctions, have key roles during development and in the adult. Previously, the physiological actions of connexins have been ascribed solely to formation of gap junction channels and thought to be mediated by the transfer of small molecules between neighboring cells. In conflict with this hypothesis here we demonstrate that Cx43 can affect cell growth independently of gap junction formation. This conclusion is based on four findings: (1) There is a lack of correlation between the action of Cx43 mutants Cx43-S255A, Cx43-S279A, and Cx43-S282A on growth and cell coupling in 3T3 A31 fibroblasts. (2) Blockade of gap junction formation, by either heptan-1-ol treatment or culturing cells at low density, had no effect on the ability of the Cx43 mutants to control growth. (3) Wildtype Cx43 inhibited growth of Neuro2a cells under conditions where gap junctions were unable to form. (4) The CT domain of Cx43, which lacks intrinsic gap junction activity, is as effective as the wildtype molecule in suppressing the growth of Neuro2a cells. These observations demonstrate that Cx43 has dual functions: first, its well-accepted role in forming a gap junction channel and, second, a direct action of the connexin protein on growth that is mediated via the cytoplasmic carboxyl domain.     

Connexin 33 Impairs Gap Junction Functionality by Accelerating Connexin 43 Gap Junction Plaque Endocytosis

Connexin 33 (Cx33) is a testis-specific gap junction protein. We previously reported that Cx33 exerts dominant-negative effect on gap junction intercellular communication by sequestering Cx43 within early endosomes in Sertoli cells. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive this process are unknown. The present study analyzed: (i) the trafficking of Cx33 and Cx43 in wild-type Sertoli cells transfected with Cx33-DsRed2 and Cx43-green fluorescent protein vectors; (ii) the formation of heteromeric Cx33/Cx43 hemi-channels and their incorporation into gap junction plaques. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-fluorescence resonance energy transfer and videomicroscopy studies demonstrated that Cx33 and Cx43 associated to form heteromeric oligomers that trafficked along microtubules to the plasma membrane. However, the plaques containing Cx33 were not functional. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), a scaffold protein proposed to secure Cx in gap junction plaques at the cell–cell boundary, associated with Cx33 in testis extracts. In cells expressing Cx33, Cx33 and ZO-1 specifically interacted with P₁ phosphorylated and P₀ unphosphorylated isoforms of Cx43, and the ZO-1 membranous signal level was reduced. It is suggested that alteration of Cx43/ZO-1 association by Cx33 could be one mechanism by which Cx33 exerts its dominant-negative effect on gap junction plaque.     

Tryptophan Scanning Reveals Dense Packing of Connexin Transmembrane Domains in Gap Junction Channels Composed of Connexin32

Tryptophan was substituted for residues in all four transmembrane domains of connexin32. Function was assayed using dual cell two-electrode voltage clamp after expression in Xenopus oocytes. Tryptophan substitution was poorly tolerated in all domains, with the greatest impact in TM1 and TM4. For instance, in TM1, 15 substitutions were made, six abolished coupling and five others significantly reduced function. Only TM2 and TM3 included a distinct helical face that lacked sensitivity to tryptophan substitution. Results were visualized on a comparative model of Cx32 hemichannel. In this model, a region midway through the membrane appears highly sensitive to tryptophan substitution and includes residues Arg-32, Ile-33, Met-34, and Val-35. In the modeled channel, pore-facing regions of TM1 and TM2 were highly sensitive to tryptophan substitution, whereas the lipid-facing regions of TM3 and TM4 were variably tolerant. Residues facing a putative intracellular water pocket (the IC pocket) were also highly sensitive to tryptophan substitution. Although future studies will be required to separate trafficking-defective mutants from those that alter channel function, a subset of interactions important for voltage gating was identified. Interactions important for voltage gating occurred mainly in the mid-region of the channel and focused on TM1. To determine whether results could be extrapolated to other connexins, TM1 of Cx43 was scanned revealing similar but not identical sensitivity to TM1 of Cx32.     

Fusion of GFP to the Carboxyl Terminus of Connexin43 Increases Gap Junction Size in HeLa Cells

The pattern of gap junctional coupling between cells is thought to be important for the proper function of many types of tissues. At present, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control the size and distribution of gap junctions. We addressed this issue by expressing connexin43 (Cx43) constructs in HeLa cells, a connexin-deficient cell line. HeLa cells expressing exogenously introduced wild-type Cx43 formed small, punctate gap junctions. By contrast, cells expressing Cx43-GFP formed large, sheet-like gap junctions. These results suggest that the GFP tag, which is fused to the carboxyl terminus of Cx43, alters gap junction size by masking the carboxyl terminal amino acids of Cx43 that comprise a zonula occludins-1 (ZO-1) binding site. We are currently testing this hypothesis using deletion and dominant-negative constructs that directly target the interaction between Cx43 and ZO-1.     

Fusion of GFP to the Carboxyl Terminus of Connexin43 Increases Gap Junction Size in HeLa Cells

The pattern of gap junctional coupling between cells is thought to be important for the proper function of many types of tissues. At present, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control the size and distribution of gap junctions. We addressed this issue by expressing connexin43 (Cx43) constructs in HeLa cells, a connexin-deficient cell line. HeLa cells expressing exogenously introduced wild-type Cx43 formed small, punctate gap junctions. By contrast, cells expressing Cx43-GFP formed large, sheet-like gap junctions. These results suggest that the GFP tag, which is fused to the carboxyl terminus of Cx43, alters gap junction size by masking the carboxyl terminal amino acids of Cx43 that comprise a zonula occludins-1 (ZO-1) binding site. We are currently testing this hypothesis using deletion and dominant-negative constructs that directly target the interaction between Cx43 and ZO-1.     

Evidence for the Presence of a Free C-Terminal Fragment of Cx43 in Cultured Cells

Migration of the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in SDS-PAGE yields 2 to 4 distinct bands, detectable in the 40-47 kDa range. Here, we show that antibodies against the carboxy-terminal domain of Cx43 recognized an additional 20-kDa product. This protein was detected in some culture cell lysates. The presence of the 20-kDa band was not prevented by the use of protease inhibitors (Complete® and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), 1-5 mM). The band was absent from cells treated with Cx43-specific RNAi, and from those derived from Cx43-deficient mice, indicating that this Cx43-immunoreactive protein is a product of the Cx43 gene. Treatment of CHO cells with cyclosporin A caused a reduction in the amount of full-length Cx43 and a concomitant increase in the amount of the 20-kDa band. Overall, our data show that a fraction of the Cx43-immunoreactive protein pool within a given cell may correspond to a C-terminal fragment of the protein.     

Identification and Functional Expression of HCx31.9, a Novel Gap Junction Gene

By combining in silico and bench molecular biology methods we have identified a novel human gap junction gene that encodes a protein designated HCx31.9. We have determined its human chromosomal location and gene structure, and we have identified a putative mouse ortholog, mCx30.2. We have observed the presence of HCx31.9 in human cerebral cortex, liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney and the presence of mCx30.2 in mouse cerebral cortex, liver and lung. Moreover, preliminary data on the electrophysiological properties of HCx31.9 have been obtained by functional expression in paired Xenopus oocytes and in transfected N2A cells.     

Some Oculodentodigital Dysplasia-Associated Cx43 Mutations Cause Increased Hemichannel Activity in Addition to Deficient Gap Junction Channels

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a dominantly inherited human disorder associated with different symptoms like craniofacial anomalies, syndactyly and heart dysfunction. ODDD is caused by mutations in the GJA1 gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43). Here, we have characterized four Cx43 mutations (I31M, G138R, G143S and H194P) after stable expression in HeLa cells. In patients, the I31M and G138R mutations showed all phenotypic characteristics of ODDD, whereas G143S did not result in facial abnormalities and H194P mutated patients exhibited no syndactylies. In transfected HeLa cells, these mutations led to lack of the P2 phosphorylation state of the Cx43 protein, complete inhibition of gap junctional coupling measured by neurobiotin transfer and increased hemichannel activity. In addition, altered trafficking and delayed degradation were found in these mutants by immunofluorescence and pulse-chase analyses. In G138R and G143S mutants, the increased hemichannel activity correlated with an increased half-time of the Cx43 protein. However, the I31M mutated protein showed no extended half-time. Thus, the increased hemichannel activity may be directly caused by an altered conformation of the mutated channel forming protein. We hypothesize that increased hemichannel activity may aggravate the phenotypic abnormalities in ODDD patients who are deficient in Cx43 gap junction channels. Radoslaw Dobrowolski and Annette Sommershof contributed equally to this work.