Journal
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
Volume 1711, Issue 2, Pages 208-214Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2004.10.001
Keywords
gap junction- and hemichannel-independent; connexin; cell proliferation; tumorigenicity; cell differentiation
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Funding
- NEI NIH HHS [EY12085, R29 EY012085, R01 EY012085] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAMS NIH HHS [AR46798, P01 AR046798] Funding Source: Medline
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Connexins have been known to be the protein building blocks of gap junctions and mediate cell-cell communication. In contrast to the conventional dogma, recent evidence suggests that in addition to forming gap junction channels, connexins possess gap junction-independent functions. One important gap junction-independent function for connexins is to serve as the major functional component for hemichannels, the un-apposed halves of gap junctions. Hemichannels, as independent functional units, play roles that are different from that of gap junctions in the cell. The other functions of connexins appear to be gap junction- and hemichannel-independent. Published studies implicate the latter functions of connexins in cell growth, differentiation, tumorigenicity, injury, and apoptosis, although the mechanistic aspects of these actions remain largely unknown. In this review, gap junction- and hemichannel-independent functions of connexins are summarized, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these connexin functions are speculated and discussed. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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