DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-201x.1998.00439.x. Gap junctions in vascular smooth muscle

10.1046/j.1365-201x.1998.00439.x

Crossref journal-article

Wiley

Acta Physiologica Scandinavica (311)

Abstract

Gap junction channels are the only class of channels which span two closely apposed plasma membranes. There are over a dozen identified subunit proteins or connexins. Three generic types of gap junction channels are possible. They are the homotypic, heterotypic and heteromeric types, each of which has a distinct connexin distribution. The major connexin found in vascular smooth muscle is connexin43. Connexin40 has also been found in vascular smooth muscle. The biosynthesis, trafficking and degradation of connexin43 has only recently been studied but the data reveal some interesting features such as a short half‐life of only 1.5–3.5 h. The gating characteristics of connexin43 reveal mode shifting behaviours which result in prolonged closure of the majority of the gap junction channels. The channel also displays weak voltage dependence and is poorly selective. These features suggest that dynamical regulation of cell‐to‐cell coupling is best designed to reduce cell‐to‐cell coupling, rather than enhance it, by down regulation of channel activity through the biosynthesis, trafficking, degradation pathways and gating via mode shifting.

Bibliography

BRINK. (1998). Gap junctions in vascular smooth muscle. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 164(4), 349â356. Portico.

Authors 1

BRINK (first)

References 42 Referenced 54

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10.1111/j.1440-1681.1996.tb01166.x
Brink P.R. Cronin K. Banach K.et al.1997.Evidence for heteromeric gap junction channels formed from rat connexin43 and human connexin37.Am J Physiol273 C1386–C1396. (10.1152/ajpcell.1997.273.4.C1386)
10.1007/BF02110111
10.1152/ajpcell.1996.271.1.C321
10.1091/mbc.4.1.7
10.1007/BF00374812
Burt J.M.1990.Modulation of cardiac gap junction channel activity by the membrane lipid environment. In: C. Peracchia (ed.)Biophysics of Gap Junction Channels p. 75.CRC Press Boca Raton. (10.1201/9781351070294-8)
{'key': 'e_1_2_12_13_2', 'first-page': '1206', 'article-title': 'Inotropic agents modulate gap junctional conductance between cardiac myocytes', 'volume': '254', 'author': 'Burt J.M.', 'year': '1988', 'journal-title': 'Am J Physiol'} / Am J Physiol / Inotropic agents modulate gap junctional conductance between cardiac myocytes by Burt J.M. (1988)
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{'key': 'e_1_2_12_16_2', 'first-page': '1054', 'article-title': 'Gap junctions modulate tissue contractility and alpha adrenergic agonist efficacy in isolated rat aorta', 'volume': '266', 'author': 'Christ G.J.', 'year': '1993', 'journal-title': 'J Pharm Exper Therapeutics'} / J Pharm Exper Therapeutics / Gap junctions modulate tissue contractility and alpha adrenergic agonist efficacy in isolated rat aorta by Christ G.J. (1993)
{'key': 'e_1_2_12_17_2', 'first-page': '631', 'article-title': 'Gap junctions in vascular tissues: Evaluating the role of intercellular communication in the modulation of vasomotor tone', 'volume': '79', 'author': 'Christ G.J.', 'year': '1996', 'journal-title': 'Am Heart Assoc, Inc Mini Rev, Circ Res'} / Am Heart Assoc, Inc Mini Rev, Circ Res / Gap junctions in vascular tissues: Evaluating the role of intercellular communication in the modulation of vasomotor tone by Christ G.J. (1996)
DeMello W.C.1990.Cyclic AMP and junctional communication viewed through a multi‐biophysical approach. In: C. Perrachia (ed.).Biophysics of Gap Junctions pp. 229–238. CRC Press Boca Raton. (10.1201/9781351070294-19)
{'key': 'e_1_2_12_19_2', 'first-page': '343', 'article-title': 'Five hour half‐life of mouse liver gap junction protein', 'volume': '127', 'author': 'Fallon R.F.', 'year': '1981', 'journal-title': 'J Cell Biol'} / J Cell Biol / Five hour half‐life of mouse liver gap junction protein by Fallon R.F. (1981)
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10.1242/jcs.97.1.109 / J Cell Sci / Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement o fCx43 in rat heart gap junctions by Laird W.W. (1990)
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10.1083/jcb.74.2.629
Meyer R.A.&Laird D. Revel J.P. & Johnson R. 1992. Inhibition of gap junction and adherens junction assembly by connexin and A‐CAM antibodies.J Cell Biol A 179–189. (10.1083/jcb.119.1.179)
10.1152/ajpcell.1993.264.1.C80 / Am J Physiol / Gap junctions between human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells: gating properties and unitary conductance by Moreno A.P. (1993)
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10.1083/jcb.103.1.123
10.1172/JCI116321
10.1016/S0021-9258(18)82720-X / J Biol Chem / The gap junction proteins B1‐connexin (connexin32) and B2‐connexin (connexin26) can form heteromeric hemichannels by Stauffer K.A. (1995)
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White T.W.& Bruzzone R. 1996. Multiple connexin proteins in single intercellular channels: connexin compatibility and functional consequences.J Bio and Biomembranes28 339–350. (10.1007/BF02110110)
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10.1016/S0959-440X(96)80073-X

Dates

Type	When
Created	22 years, 5 months ago (March 10, 2003, 10:28 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 10 months ago (Oct. 28, 2023, 3:44 a.m.)
Indexed	1 month ago (Aug. 2, 2025, 1:27 a.m.)
Issued	26 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1998)
Published	26 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1998)
Published Online	23 years, 4 months ago (April 20, 2002)
Published Print	26 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1998)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{BRINK_1998, title={Gap junctions in vascular smooth muscle}, volume={164}, ISSN={1365-201X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201x.1998.00439.x}, DOI={10.1046/j.1365-201x.1998.00439.x}, number={4}, journal={Acta Physiologica Scandinavica}, publisher={Wiley}, author={BRINK}, year={1998}, month=dec, pages={349–356} }

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