Study on the function of gap junctions by using the monoclonal antibodies against gap junction proteins

在本项目中，我们一直在使用针对间隙连接蛋白的单克隆抗体来阐明间隙连接的功能。我们使用针对肝脏间隙连接蛋白相同多肽的单克隆抗体进行免疫组织化学染色和免疫印迹。肝脏中的间隙连接蛋白由两种不同的蛋白组成；21k和27k蛋白，尽管这两种蛋白的组成比例在动物物种中有所不同。用荧光染料转移技术检测了肝细胞间隙连接的细胞间通讯，但免疫组织化学和免疫印迹法均未检测到间隙连接蛋白。肝细胞中间隙融合蛋白的表达可能受到环境条件的调节。大鼠唾液腺腺泡细胞间隙连接的主要蛋白为27k间隙连接蛋白。在腺泡细胞和部分间管中也检测到21k间隙连接蛋白。胆碱能激动剂抑制大鼠颌下腺腺泡细胞间隙-关节间的细胞间通讯。27k间隙junotion蛋白的表达可能受副交感神经调控，并可能在控制唾液分泌中起一定作用。

In this project, we have been using the monoclonal antibodies against the gap Junction proteins to clarify the function of gap junctions. We used the monoolonal antibodies against the polypeptides identloal to the gap Junction proteins in the liver for the immunohistochemical staining and immunoblotting.The gap Junction proteins in the liver consisted of two different proteins ; 21k and 27k proteins, although the composition ratio of both proteins was different in the species of the animals. The gap-junctional intercellular communication in the cell lines derived from the liver was detected by using the fluorescent dye-transfer technique, but the gap Junotion proteins were not detected by both the immunohistochemioal and immunoblotting methods. the expression of gap junotion proteins in the hepatocytes might be modulated by the enviromental conditions.The main proteins of the gap junotions in the aoinar cells of rat salivary gland consisted of 27k gap junction protein. The 21k gap junction protein was also detected in the acinar oells and in some portion of interoallated ducts. The cholinergic agonlsts suppressed the gap-Junotional intercellular communioation in the acinar cells of rat submandibular glands. The funotion of 27k gap junotion proteins might be regulated by the parasympathetic nerve and might play some role in control of salivary secretion.