QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

First published online 5 October 2004
doi: 10.1242/jcs.01413

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcs.01413v1 117/22/5381    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by von Maltzahn, J. Articles by Söhl, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by von Maltzahn, J. Articles by Söhl, G.

The novel mouse connexin39 gene is expressed in developing striated muscle fibers

Institut für Genetik, Abteilung Molekulargenetik, Universität Bonn, Römerstr. 164, 53117 Bonn, Germany

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: g.soehl{at}uni-bonn.de)

Accepted 19 July 2004

The recently identified mouse connexin39 (mCx39) gene encodes a peptide of 364 amino acids that shows only 61% sequence similarity to its putative human orthologue connexin40.1 (hCx40.1). The coding regions of mCx39 and hCx40.1 are located on two different exons as described for murine and human connexin36. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that mCx39 is expressed after embryonic day (ED) 13.5 up to birth and is absent from the adult stage. Polyclonal antibodies raised to a peptide corresponding to the 16 C-terminal amino acid residues detected a protein band of about 40 kDa apparent molecular mass in lysates of several embryonic tissues. In sections of ED14.5, ED16.5 and neonatal (P0) tissues, immunofluorescent signals were prominent between myotubes in the developing diaphragm, within the intercostal muscle, in the region around the occipital bone, as well as in muscles of the limb, tongue and connective tissue around the eye. These antibodies yielded punctate signals on apposed plasma membranes of HeLa cells transfected with Cx39 cDNA but did not react with wild-type cells. Furthermore, no intercellular permeation of microinjected neurobiotin and other tracers could be detected in Cx39 transfected HeLa cells. However, after microinjection of Alexa488 into myotubes of dissected neonatal diaphragm, we found spreading of this dye into neighbouring cells. As expression of no other known connexin could be verified in these cells, intercellular dye transfer might result from functional expression of Cx39 in developing striated muscle fibers.

Key words: Gap junction, mCx39, hCx40.1, Orthology, Embryogenesis, Myogenesis, Adult muscle regeneration

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Worsdorfer, S. Maxeiner, C. Markopoulos, G. Kirfel, V. Wulf, T. Auth, S. Urschel, J. von Maltzahn, and K. Willecke Connexin Expression and Functional Analysis of Gap Junctional Communication in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Stem Cells, February 1, 2008; 26(2): 431 - 439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Squecco, C. Sassoli, F. Nuti, M. Martinesi, F. Chellini, D. Nosi, S. Zecchi-Orlandini, F. Francini, L. Formigli, and E. Meacci Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Induces Myoblast Differentiation through Cx43 Protein Expression: A Role for a Gap Junction-dependent and -independent Function Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2006; 17(11): 4896 - 4910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]