Connexin phosphorylation as a regulatory event linked to channel gating

The main proteins required for functional gap junction channels are known as connexins and most of their isoforms indicate that they can become phosphorylated. Connexin phosphorylation has been reported to participate in modifying junctional communication and the mechanisms involved apparently depen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochimica et biophysica acta 2005-06, Vol.1711 (2), p.164-171
Main Author: Moreno, Alonso P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Communication - physiology
Cell to cell coupling
Connexins - metabolism
Gap junction
Gating
Ion Channel Gating - physiology
Phosphorylation
Protein phosphorylation
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Summary:The main proteins required for functional gap junction channels are known as connexins and most of their isoforms indicate that they can become phosphorylated. Connexin phosphorylation has been reported to participate in modifying junctional communication and the mechanisms involved apparently depend on which kinase becomes involved. Although multiple reports have suggested a strong influence of phosphorylation on channel gating, not enough physiological studies have been performed to determine precisely the gating mechanisms implicated. Moreover, gap junction channels follow other various gating mechanisms, including voltage gating and chemical gating, where phosphorylation could act as a modulator. The quest for this chapter has been to discriminate those instances where phosphorylation acts directly as a gating trigger and where it acts indirectly or only as a modulator. Despite recent efforts, the mechanisms involved in all these cases are barely understood.
ISSN:0005-2736
0006-3002
1879-2642
DOI:10.1016/j.bbamem.2005.02.016