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

在本项目中，我们利用抗差距连接蛋白的单克隆抗体来阐明间隙连接的功能。用抗肝脏差距连接蛋白特异性多肽的单克隆抗体进行免疫组化染色和免疫印迹，结果表明，肝脏中的差距连接蛋白由21 k和27 k两种不同的蛋白质组成，尽管这两种蛋白质的组成比例在动物种属中不同。用荧光染料转移技术检测了肝细胞系中的缝隙连接通讯，但用免疫印迹和荧光化学方法均未检测到差距连接蛋白。缝隙连接蛋白在肝细胞中的表达可能受环境条件的调节，大鼠唾液腺腺差距连接蛋白主要由27K缝隙连接蛋白组成。21k间隙连接蛋白在腺泡细胞和部分腺间导管中也有表达。胆碱能激动剂抑制大鼠下颌下腺腺泡细胞间隙性通讯。27kgap连接蛋白的功能可能受副交感神经的调节，在唾液分泌的调控中起一定作用。

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.