CONNEXINS AND NEURAL DEVELOPMENT

发育性脑异常是智力迟钝的主要原因。适当的模式对中枢神经系统的发育至关重要。通过间隙连接通道协调的细胞通信室可能对模式的确定及其稳定至关重要。我们之前的研究已经提出了形成这些隔室及其边界的可能机制-具有不同通透性和调节特性并修饰（或抑制）共表达连接蛋白特性的间隙连接亚基蛋白（连接蛋白，Cx）的表达。我们将评估

Developmental brain abnormalities are a major cause of mental retardation. Appropriate patterning is critical to development of the central nervous system. Compartments of cellular communication coordinated through gap junction channels may be critical for the determination of patterns and their stabilization. Our prior studies have suggested a possible mechanism for forming these compartments and their boundaries - the expression of gap junction subunit proteins (connexins, Cx) that have different permeability and regulatory properties and that modify (or inhibit) the properties of co-expressed connexins. We will evaluate the contributions of five connexins (CX36, CX45, CX56, CX43, and the newly discovered CX33.2) in the development of two regions of the nervous system (hindbrain and spinal cord). Connexin expression will be characterized by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry and related to domains of intercellular communication, patterning of gene expression, cell growth, apoptosis, and neuronal migration. The biochemical and functional properties of CX33.2 will be determined. Connexin gene expression and cellular coupling will be modified by gene electroporation, and the developmental consequences determined.