Regulation of lens rCx46-formed hemichannels by activation of protein kinase C, external Ca(2+) and protons.
J Membr Biol
; 173(1): 39-46, 2000 Jan 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10612690
ABSTRACT
Rodent lens connexin46 (rCx46) formed active voltage-dependent hemichannels when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Time-dependent macroscopic currents were evoked upon depolarization. The observed two activation time constants were weakly voltage-dependent and in the order of hundreds of milliseconds and seconds, respectively. Occasionally, the macroscopic steady-state current and the corresponding current-voltage curve showed inactivation at high depolarizing voltages (>+50 mV). To account for the fast recovery from inactivation (<2 msec) favored by hyperpolarization, a four-state kinetic model (C(1)(closed) <--> C(2)(closed) <--> O(open) <--> I(inactivated)) is proposed. In the absence of inactivation, the macroscopic conductance decreased and inactivation became visible at voltages positive of +50 mV when the rCx46-expressing oocytes were treated with the protein-kinase-C-activators OAG or TPA, high external concentrations of Ca(2+) or H(+). However, the underlying mechanisms of OAG, H(+) or Ca(2+) action were different. While OAG did not alter the voltage-dependent activation of the rCx46-hemichannels, an increase in the external Ca(2+) or H(+) level shifted the voltage threshold for activation to more positive voltages. In contrast to Ca(2+), protons were not effective in the physiological concentration range. We propose that under physiological conditions only external Ca(2+) and intracellular PKC-dependent processes regulate rCx46 in the lens.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protein Kinase C
/
Cell Membrane
/
Calcium
/
Connexins
/
Ion Channels
/
Lens, Crystalline
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Membr Biol
Year:
2000
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Alemania