Phosphorylation of Gap Junction Proteins

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Gap junctions are specialized matched membrane domains that contain channels that allow exchange of small molecules including ions, metabolites, and second messengers (e.g., Ca2+ and IP3) between neighboring cells. These channels are necessary for proper development, and genetic linkage analyses have implicated connexins in at least 14 human diseases. The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) is regulated by more than 12 phosphorylation events. The short half-life of Cx43 (~2 h) causes gap junctions to be constantly assembled, remodeled and turned over. Growth factors and wounding can further reduce Cx43's half-life and clear gap junctions from the plasma membrane within an hour in a process we term acute turnover. This proposal focuses on the role that Cx43 phosphorylation plays in gap junction stability and how acute turnover is enhanced in response to growth factors and skin wounding. We propose to: (1). determine if increased gap junction size promotes acute turnover; (2). test whether Src phosphorylation of Cx43 is necessary for GJ internalization and directs the endocytic route, and (3). determine the physiological consequences of Cx43 phosphorylation and gap junction turnover during epidermal wounding.