Skip to main content
Log in

Biochemical and genetic investigations on gap junctions from mammalian cells

  • Published:
Biophysics of structure and mechanism Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gap junction protein (26K) in mouse or rat liver has been studied using a rabbit antiserum directed against the sodium dodecylsulfate denatured 26K protein from mouse liver. The liver 26K protein has been localized in gap junction plaques of hepatic plasma membranes by immuno electron microscopy. Affinity purified anti-26K antiserum showed weak cross reactivity with mouse or bovine lens gap junction protein (MIP26). This result suggests some structural homology between the different gap junction proteins in liver and lens. After partial hepatectomy of young rats the liver 26K protein appears to be degraded and later resynthesized. A variant of established Chinese hamster fibroblastoid cells has been isolated and shown to be defective in metabolic cooperation via gap junctions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Finbow M, Yancey SB, Johnson R, Revel J-P (1980) Independent lines of evidence suggesting a major gap junctional protein with a molecular weight of 26 000. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77: 970–974

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson D, Eibl H, Weber K (1979) Structure and biochemistry of mouse hepatic gap junctions. J Mol Biol 132: 193–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertzberg EL, Andersen DJ, Friedlaender M, Gilula NB (1982) Comparative analysis of the major polypeptides from liver gap junctions and lens fiber junctions. J Cell Biol 92: 53–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertzberg EL, Gilula NB (1982) Liver gap junctions and lens fiber junctions: comparative analysis and calmodulin interaction. CSH Symp Quant Biol 46: 639–645

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper ML, Subak-Sharpe JH (1980) Metabolic cooperation between cells. Int Rev Cytol 69: 45–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Janßen-Timmen U, Dermietzel R, Traub O, Willecke K (1982) Localization of the gap junction 26K protein in mouse liver membranes by immuno electron microscopy. (manuscript in preparation)

  • Loewenstein WR (1981) Junctional intercellular communication: the cell-to-cell membrane channel. Physiol Rev 61: 829–913

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz J (1982) Freeze-fracture of hepatic fine structure under normal and experimental conditions. In: Motta PM, Didio LJA (eds) Basic and clinical hepatology. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, pp 51–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz J, Dressler D (1979) Reformation of gap and tight junctions in regenerating liver after cholestasis. Cell Tissue Res 199: 257–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer DJ, Yancey SB, Revel J-P, Peskoff A (1981) Intercellular communication in normal and regenerating rat liver: a quantitative analysis. J Cell Biol 91: 505–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson BJ, Hunkapiller MW, Grim LB, Hood LE, Revel J-P (1981) Rat liver gap junction proteins: properties and partial sequence. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78: 7594–7598

    Google Scholar 

  • Olmsted JB (1981) Affinity purification of antibodies from diazotized paper blots of heterogeneous protein samples. J Biol Chem 256: 11955–11957

    Google Scholar 

  • Slack C, Morgan RHM, Hooper MC (1978) Isolation of metabolic cooperation-defective variants from mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. Exp Cell Res 117: 195–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Traub O, Drüge PM, Willecke K (1982b) Degradation and resynthesis of gap junction protein in plasma membranes of regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy or cholestasis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (in press)

  • Traub O, Janßen-Timrnen U, Drüge PM, Dermietzel R, Willecke K (1982a) Immunological properties of gap junction protein from mouse liver. J Cell Biochem 19: 27–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Unwin PNT, Zampighi G (1980) Structure of the junction between communicating cells. Nature 283: 543–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Willecke K, Traub O, Janßen-Timmen U, Drüge PM, Dermietzel R (1982a) Expression of gap junction protein in liver and lens fiber tissue. In: Jaenicke L (ed) Biochemistry of differentiation and morphogenesis. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Willecke K, Müller D, Drüge PM, Frixen U, Schäfer R, Dermietzel R, Hülser D (1982) Isolation and characterization of Chinese hamster cells defective in cell-cell coupling via gap junctions. Exp Cell Res (in press)

  • Yancey SB, Easter B, Revel J-P (1979) Cytological changes in gap junctions during liver regeneration. J Ultrastruct Res 67: 220–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee AG, Revel J-P (1978) Loss and reappearance of gap junctions in regenerating liver. J Cell Biol 78: 554–564

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Willecke, K., Dermietzel, R., Drüge, P.M. et al. Biochemical and genetic investigations on gap junctions from mammalian cells. Biophys. Struct. Mechanism 9, 103–107 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539108

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539108

Key words

Navigation