Biomaterial Database

Clathrin and Cx43 gap junction plaque endoexocytosis. 2008

Beth M Nickel, and B Hewa DeFranco, and Vernon L Gay, and Sandra A Murray

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 324 South Biomedical Science Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

In earlier transmission electron microscopic studies, we have described pentilaminar gap junctional membrane invaginations and annular gap junction vesicles coated with short, electron-dense bristles. The similarity between these electron-dense bristles and the material surrounding clathrin-coated pits led us to suggest that the dense bristles associated with gap junction structures might be clathrin. To confirm that clathrin is indeed associated with annular gap junction vesicles and gap junction plaques, quantum dot immuno-electron microscopic techniques were used. We report here that clathrin associates with both connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junction plaques and pentilaminar gap junction vesicles. An important finding was the preferential localization of clathrin to the cytoplasmic surface of the annular or of the gap junction plaque membrane of one of the two contacting cells. This is consistent with the possibility that the direction of gap junction plaque internalization into one of two contacting cells is regulated by clathrin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002966	Clathrin	The main structural coat protein of COATED VESICLES which play a key role in the intracellular transport between membranous organelles. Each molecule of clathrin consists of three light chains (CLATHRIN LIGHT CHAINS) and three heavy chains (CLATHRIN HEAVY CHAINS) that form a structure called a triskelion. Clathrin also interacts with cytoskeletal proteins.
D005089	Exocytosis	Cellular release of material within membrane-limited vesicles by fusion of the vesicles with the CELL MEMBRANE.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016253	Microscopy, Immunoelectron	Microscopy in which the samples are first stained immunocytochemically and then examined using an electron microscope. Immunoelectron microscopy is used extensively in diagnostic virology as part of very sensitive immunoassays.	Immunoelectron Microscopy,Microscopy, Immuno-Electron,Immuno-Electron Microscopies,Immuno-Electron Microscopy,Immunoelectron Microscopies,Microscopies, Immuno-Electron,Microscopies, Immunoelectron,Microscopy, Immuno Electron
D017629	Gap Junctions	Connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current. Gap junctions were first described anatomically as regions of close apposition between cells with a narrow (1-2 nm) gap between cell membranes. The variety in the properties of gap junctions is reflected in the number of CONNEXINS, the family of proteins which form the junctions.	Gap Junction,Junction, Gap,Junctions, Gap
D045663	Quantum Dots	Nanometer sized fragments of semiconductor crystalline material which emit PHOTONS. The wavelength is based on the quantum confinement size of the dot. They can be embedded in MICROBEADS for high throughput ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY TECHNIQUES.	Nanocrystals, Semiconductor,Semiconductor Nanocrystals,Semiconductor Nanoparticles,Dot, Quantum,Dots, Quantum,Nanocrystal, Semiconductor,Nanoparticle, Semiconductor,Nanoparticles, Semiconductor,Quantum Dot,Semiconductor Nanocrystal,Semiconductor Nanoparticle
D045744	Cell Line, Tumor	A cell line derived from cultured tumor cells.	Tumor Cell Line,Cell Lines, Tumor,Line, Tumor Cell,Lines, Tumor Cell,Tumor Cell Lines
D046529	Microscopy, Electron, Transmission	Electron microscopy in which the ELECTRONS or their reaction products that pass down through the specimen are imaged below the plane of the specimen.	Electron Diffraction Microscopy,Electron Microscopy, Transmission,Microscopy, Electron Diffraction,Transmission Electron Microscopy,Diffraction Microscopy, Electron,Microscopy, Transmission Electron
D018031	Connexin 43	A 43-kDa peptide which is a member of the connexin family of gap junction proteins. Connexin 43 is a product of a gene in the alpha class of connexin genes (the alpha-1 gene). It was first isolated from mammalian heart, but is widespread in the body including the brain.	Cx43,Connexin43