[HTML][HTML] Connexin phosphorylation as a regulatory event linked to channel gating

AP Moreno - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 2005 - Elsevier
AP Moreno
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 2005Elsevier
The main proteins required for functional gap junction channels are known as connexins
and most of their isoforms indicate that they can become phosphorylated. Connexin
phosphorylation has been reported to participate in modifying junctional communication and
the mechanisms involved apparently depend on which kinase becomes involved. Although
multiple reports have suggested a strong influence of phosphorylation on channel gating,
not enough physiological studies have been performed to determine precisely the gating …
The main proteins required for functional gap junction channels are known as connexins and most of their isoforms indicate that they can become phosphorylated. Connexin phosphorylation has been reported to participate in modifying junctional communication and the mechanisms involved apparently depend on which kinase becomes involved. Although multiple reports have suggested a strong influence of phosphorylation on channel gating, not enough physiological studies have been performed to determine precisely the gating mechanisms implicated. Moreover, gap junction channels follow other various gating mechanisms, including voltage gating and chemical gating, where phosphorylation could act as a modulator. The quest for this chapter has been to discriminate those instances where phosphorylation acts directly as a gating trigger and where it acts indirectly or only as a modulator. Despite recent efforts, the mechanisms involved in all these cases are barely understood.
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