The Noncanonical Functions of Cx43 in the Heart
The Noncanonical Functions of Cx43 in the Heart
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DOI：
10.1007/s00232-012-9466-y
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发表时间：
2012-08-01
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Delmar, Mario
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Agullo-Pascual, Esperanza;Delmar, Mario
有大量证据表明连接蛋白形成间隙连接。然而，这并不排除连接蛋白可以发挥其他功能的可能性，与间隙连接（甚至可渗透的半通道）形成的功能分开。在这里，我们重点关注连接蛋白 43 (Cx43) 的这些非典型功能，特别是在心脏中。我们描述了两个具体的例子：Cx43 对细胞间粘附的重要性，以及 Cx43 在钠通道功能中的作用。我们认为，无论是否存在可渗透的间隙连接通道，Cx43 的这两个功能对心脏中电活动的传播都有重要影响。总体而言，Cx43 在心脏电生理学中的独立于间隙连接的功能成为未来研究的一个令人兴奋的领域。
There is abundant evidence showing that connexins form gap junctions. Yet this does not exclude the possibility that connexins can exert other functions, separate from that of gap junction (or even a permeable hemichannel) formation. Here, we focus on these noncanonical functions of connexin43 (Cx43), particularly in the heart. We describe two specific examples: the importance of Cx43 on intercellular adhesion, and the role of Cx43 in the function of the sodium channel. We propose that these two functions of Cx43 have important repercussions on the propagation of electrical activity in the heart, irrespective of the presence of permeable gap junction channels. Overall, the gap junction-independent functions of Cx43 in cardiac electrophysiology emerge as an exciting area of future research.