TY - JOUR
T1 - Gap junction and hemichannel-independent actions of connexins on cell and tissue functions - An update
AU - Zhou, Jade Z.
AU - Jiang, Jean X.
N1 - Funding Information:
The work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant EY012085 and Welch Foundation Grant AQ-1507 to J.X.J.
PY - 2014/4/17
Y1 - 2014/4/17
N2 - Connexins, a family of transmembrane proteins, are components of both gap junction channels and hemichannels, which mediate the exchange of ions and small molecules between adjacent cells, and between the inside and outside of the cell, respectively. Substantial advancements have been made in the comprehension of the role of gap junctions and hemichannels in coordinating cellular events. In recent years, a plethora of studies demonstrate a role of connexin proteins in the regulation of tissue homeostasis that occurs independently of their channel activities. This is shown in the context of cell growth, adhesion, migration, apoptosis, and signaling. The major mechanisms of these channel-independent activities still remain to be discovered. In this review, we provide an updated overview on the current knowledge of gap junction- and hemichannel-independent functions of connexins, in particular, their effects on tumorigenesis, neurogenesis and disease development.
AB - Connexins, a family of transmembrane proteins, are components of both gap junction channels and hemichannels, which mediate the exchange of ions and small molecules between adjacent cells, and between the inside and outside of the cell, respectively. Substantial advancements have been made in the comprehension of the role of gap junctions and hemichannels in coordinating cellular events. In recent years, a plethora of studies demonstrate a role of connexin proteins in the regulation of tissue homeostasis that occurs independently of their channel activities. This is shown in the context of cell growth, adhesion, migration, apoptosis, and signaling. The major mechanisms of these channel-independent activities still remain to be discovered. In this review, we provide an updated overview on the current knowledge of gap junction- and hemichannel-independent functions of connexins, in particular, their effects on tumorigenesis, neurogenesis and disease development.
KW - Connexin
KW - Gap junction
KW - Hemichannel
KW - Independent function
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U2 - 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.001
DO - 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 24434539
AN - SCOPUS:84898856565
VL - 588
SP - 1186
EP - 1192
JO - FEBS Letters
JF - FEBS Letters
SN - 0014-5793
IS - 8
ER -