Connexin 43 (Cx43, Gap Junction Alpha 1 Protein, CxA-1)

Intracellular communication mediated by gap junctions plays an important role in a variety of cellular processes including homeostasis, morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and growth control. Gap junctions are transmembrane channels that serve to directly link neighboring cells by mediating the exchange of low-molecular weight metabolites, ions, and second messengers. Gap junctions are formed by the interaction of connexons or hemichannels on adjacent cells. The connexon itself is composed of a hexameric assembly of proteins referred to as connexins. Connexins are highly homologous proteins encoded by a multigene family. The connexins exhibit similar structural features which include a cytoplasmic amino terminal region, four transmembrane domains, two extracellular loops, and a carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic tail of varying length(2,3). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the various connexin family members indicate that the two areas of greatest divergence amongst the connexin family members are the intracellular loop connecting the second and third transmembrane segments and the carboxy-terminal tail. These domains are thought to mediate connexin-type specific properties including phosphorylation, responses to gating stimuli, as well as assembly and membrane turnover. Modulation of gap junctional communication can be achieved by multiple mechanisms and can occur very rapidly or over a period of several hours. These mechanisms include alterations in transcription, translation, stability, postranslational processing (especially phosphorylation), gating, and insertion or removal from the plasma membrane(7). Interestingly, reduction or alterations in the levels or types of connexin expressed in a given cell type has been found to correlate with tumor progression and metastasis(7,9).\n\nApplications: \nSuitable for use in ELISA, Western Blot and Immunohistochemistry. Other applications not tested.\n\nRecommended Dilution:\nELISA: 0.1-1ug/ml\nWestern Blot: ~2-4ug/ml\nImmunohistochemistry (paraffin-embedded; frozen): 1-5ug/ml\nNote: Paraffin sections require a heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) step.\nOptimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.\n\nPositive Control: \nMouse heart tissue\n\nStorage and Stability:\nMay be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. For long-term storage and to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, add sterile glycerol (40-50%), aliquot and store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20 degrees C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Catalog Number

C7857-06A

Size

50ug

Applications

ELISA, IHC, WB

Hosts

Rabbit

Reactivities

Hum, Mouse, Rat

Form

Supplied as a liquid in PBS, pH 7.4, 0.1% sodium azide.

P Type

Pab

Purity

Purified by affinity chromatography.

Isotype

IgG

References

1. Nagy, J.I., et al., Exp. Cell Res. 236: 127-136 (1997). 2. Beyer, E., et al., Cell Biol. 105: 2621-2629 (1987). 3. Fishman, G.I., et al., J. Cell Biol. 111: 589-598 (1990). 4. Saez, J.C., et al., In: Advances in Second Messenger and Phosphoprotein Research Eds: Shenolikar, S., Narin, A., Raven Press, New York (1993). 5. Bennet, M.V.L., et al., Neuron 6: 305-320 (1990). 6. Beyer, E.C., et al., J. Cell Biol. 108: 595-605 (1989). 7. Crow, D.S., et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 10: 1754-1763 (1990). 8. Kanter, H.L., et al., Circ. Res. 73: 344-350 (1993). 9. Wilgenbus, et al., Int. J. Cancer 51: 522-529 (1992). 10. Davis, L.M., et al., Am. Coll. Cardiol. 24: 1124-1132 (1994). 11. Masgrou-Peya, E., et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 45(9): 1207-1215 (1997). 12. Martin, P.E.M., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273(3): 1719-1726 (1998). 13. Kamibayashi, Y., et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 101(6): 773-778 (1993). 14. Toyofuku, T., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273(3): 1519-1528 (1998). 15. Hosny, S. & Jennes, L., Neurodendocrinology 67: 101-108 (1998). 16. Li, W.E.I. & Nagy, J.I., Neuroscience 97(1): 113-123 (2000). 17. Li, W.E.I., et al., Euro. J. Neurosci. 10: 2444-2463 (1998). 18. Nusrat, A., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275(38): 29,816-29,822 (2000).

Additional Info

Recognizes rat connexin 43 at 43kD. Reactivity with connexin 43 is independent of phosphorylation status. Species Crossreactivity: mouse brain, rat brain, and human smooth muscle cell extracts by Western Blot; no reactivity seen with other connexin types. Positive staining with mouse heart tissue.