IMAGING MOLECULAR STRUCTURE & ACTIVITY OF GAP JUNCTIONS

描述：研究人员提出的实验寻求一种更好的 了解心脏缝隙连接通道的四级结构。 为此，原子力显微镜(AFM)测量将在 水合心脏缝隙连接以确定大小、形状、亚单位 排列、亚基数目和一般微观结构。这些结构 将比较完全形成的缝隙连接的重组、提纯 和完整的蛋白质。连接子对的其他测量结果将是 与针对孤立半通道获得的结果进行比较，以确定 在细胞-细胞接触期间和之前组装成对。最后， 调查员将利用AFM测量开始解开 与状态变化相关联的构象变化 通道功能。蛋白质的开放和闭合状态将被确定 并进行比较以确定形态上的巨大变化是否与 以及不同功能状态之间的转换。

DESCRIPTION: The experiments proposed by the investigator seek a better understanding of the quaternary structure of cardiac gap junction channels. To this end Atomic Force Microscopic (AFM) measurements will be made on hydrated cardiac gap junctions to determine the size, shape, subunit arrangement, subunit number, and general microstructure. These structures of fully formed gap junctions will be compared for reconstituted, purified and intact proteins. Additional measurements of connexon pairs will be compared to those obtained for isolated hemichannels to determine how the pairs are assembled during and prior to cell-cell contact. Finally, the investigator will utilize AFM measurement to begin unravelling the conformational changes which are associated with changes in the state of channel function. Open and closed states of the protein will be ascertained and compared to establish whether gross changes in morphology are associated with the transitions between the different functional states.