Connexin and pannexin mediated cell-cell communication

Eliana Scemes, Sylvia O. Suadicani, Gerhard Dahl, David C. Spray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

194 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this review, we briefly summarize what is known about the properties of the three families of gap junction proteins, connexins, innexins and pannexins, emphasizing their importance as intercellular channels that provide ionic and metabolic coupling and as non-junctional channels that can function as a paracrine signaling pathway. We discuss that two distinct groups of proteins form gap junctions in deuterostomes (connexins) and protostomes (innexins), and that channels formed of the deuterostome homologues of innexins (pannexins) differ from connexin channels in terms of important structural features and activation properties. These differences indicate that the two families of gap junction proteins serve distinct, complementary functions in deuterostomes. In several tissues, including the CNS, both connexins and pannexins are involved in intercellular communication, but have different roles. Connexins mainly contribute by forming the intercellular gap junction channels, which provide for junctional coupling and define the communication compartments in the CNS. We also provide new data supporting the concept that pannexins form the non-junctional channels that play paracrine roles by releasing ATP and, thus, modulating the range of the intercellular Ca2+-wave transmission between astrocytes in culture.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-208
Number of pages10
JournalNeuron Glia Biology
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

Keywords

  • Astrocytes
  • Ca waves
  • Gap junctions
  • Glia
  • Hemichannels
  • Purinergic receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

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