Definition
Pannexins are a second family of gap junction genes, distinct from connexins. However, in function they are similar to connexins, forming hemichannels, proteinaceous cylinders spanning the plasma membrane and encompassing a hydrophilic channel.
Characteristics
Overview. Until quite recently, only one mammalian family of gap junction genes had been identified, namely, the connexins. However, a novel family of mammalian gap junction genes with low sequence similarity to the invertebrate gap junctions, innexins (Inxs), has been discovered in chordates and termed pannexins (Panxs). Currently, three pannexin members (Papanicolaou test, Panx2, and Panx3) have been identified in vertebrates. Previous studies on Inx mutants in Drosophilahave demonstrated Inx-specific functions including synaptogenesis in the giant fiber system, epithelial organization and morphogenesis, and germ cell differentiation processes. The role of pannexins in mammalian cells and tissues has yet to be...
Keywords
- Extracellular Loop
- Junctional Coupling
- Suicide Gene Therapy
- Germ Cell Differentiation
- Gene Expression Database
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References
Lai CP, Bechberger JF, Thompson RJ et al (2007) Tumor-suppressive effects of pannexin 1 in c6 glioma cells. Cancer Res 67:1545–1554
Litvin O, Tiunova A, Connell-Alberts Y et al (2006) What is hidden in the pannexin treasure trove: the sneak peek and the guesswork. J Cell Mol Med 10:613–634
Naus CC, Goldberg GS, Sin WC (2005) Connexin in growth control and cancer. In: Winterhager E (ed) Gap junctions in development and disease. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York, pp 253–273
Oskam NT, Bijleveld EH, Hulsebos TJ (2000) A region of common deletion in 22q13.3 in human glioma associated with astrocytoma progression. Int J Cancer 85:336–339
Panchin YV (2005) Evolution of gap junction proteins – the pannexin alternative. J Exp Biol 208:1415–1419
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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Lai, C.P.K., Bechberger, J.F., Naus, C.C. (2015). Pannexins. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4363-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_4363-2
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9
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