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Interplay between Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator and Gap Junction Channels Made of Connexins 45, 40, 32 and 50 Expressed in Oocytes

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Abstract

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) is a Cl− channel known to influence other channels, including connexin (Cx) channels. To study the functional interaction between CFTR and gap junction channels, we coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes CFTR and either Cx45, Cx40, Cx32 or Cx50 and monitored junctional conductance (G j) and its sensitivity to transjunctional voltage (V j) by the dual voltage-clamp method. Application of forskolin induced a Cl− current; increased G j approximately 750%, 560%, 64% and 8% in Cx45, Cx40, Cx32 and Cx50, respectively; and decreased sensitivity to V j gating, monitored by a change in the ratio between G j steady state and G j peak (G jSS/G jPK) at the pulse. In oocyte pairs expressing just Cx45 in one oocyte (#1) and both Cx45 and CFTR in the other (#2), with negative pulses applied to oocyte #1 forskolin application still increased G j and decreased the sensitivity to V j gating, indicating that CFTR activation is effective even when it affects only one of the two hemichannels and that the G j and V j changes are not artifacts of decreased membrane resistance in the pulsed oocyte. COOH-terminus truncation reduced the forskolin effect on Cx40 (Cx40TR) but not on Cx32 (Cx32TR) channels. The data suggest a cross-talk between CFTR and a variety of gap junction channels. Cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins and/or other intermediate cytoplasmic proteins are likely to play a role in CFTR-Cx interaction.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant GM20113). The authors thank Dr. D. C. Devor (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA) for the generous gift of human CFTR cDNA.

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  1. Camillo Peracchia

    Present address: Laboratorio de Neurofisiologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas, Alfredo Lanari Universidad de Buenos Aires, C. de Malvinas, 3150 1427, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642-8711

    Basilio A. Kotsias, Mohammad Salim, Lillian L. Peracchia & Camillo Peracchia

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  1. Basilio A. Kotsias
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  2. Mohammad Salim
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  3. Lillian L. Peracchia
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Correspondence to Camillo Peracchia.

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Kotsias, B.A., Salim, M., Peracchia, L.L. et al. Interplay between Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator and Gap Junction Channels Made of Connexins 45, 40, 32 and 50 Expressed in Oocytes. J Membrane Biol 214, 1–8 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-006-0064-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-006-0064-8

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