Connexins and lens biology

Innexin function dictates the spatial relationship between distal somatic cells in the Caenorhabditis elegans gonad without impacting the germline stem cell pool

The paper shows that gap-junctional signaling via innexins controls the positioning of distal somatic cells in C. elegans gonads without affecting germline stem cell boundaries.

Electrical synapse formation is differentially regulated by distinct isoforms of a postsynaptic scaffold

The paper shows that different isoforms of the ZO1b gene contribute uniquely to the electrical synapse density complex, affecting gap junction channel localization and function in zebrafish.

The disconnect2 mutation disrupts the tjp1b gene that is required for electrical synapse formation

The paper identifies a mutation in tjp1b that disrupts electrical synapse formation in zebrafish by preventing neural gap junction channel localization.

Analysis of Rod/Cone Gap Junctions from the Reconstruction of Mouse Photoreceptor Terminals

The paper reconstructs mouse photoreceptor terminals to analyze rod/cone gap junctions, finding they account for nearly all photoreceptor connections and are modulated by dopamine.

Connexinplexity: The spatial and temporal expression of connexin genes during vertebrate organogenesis

The paper maps the spatial and temporal expression of connexin genes in zebrafish during organogenesis, revealing tissue- and cell-type-specific patterns and providing a guide for human connexin genes.

The dynamic range of voltage-dependent gap junction signaling is maintained by Ih-induced membrane potential depolarization

The paper shows that Ih-induced membrane potential depolarization maintains the dynamic range of voltage-dependent gap junction signaling in electrical synapses.

AAV-BR1 targets endothelial cells in the retina to reveal their morphological diversity and to deliver Cx43.

The paper uses AAV-BR1 to target endothelial cells in the mouse retina, identify their morphology, and deliver Cx43 for studying microvascular function.

A dual voltage clamp technique to study gap junction hemichannels in astrocytes cultured from neonatal rodent spinal cords

The paper develops a dual voltage clamp technique to measure single channel conductance of pannexin-1 hemichannels in astrocytes and finds changes in activity in response to FGF-1 treatment.

cAMP controls a trafficking mechanism that directs the neuron specificity and subcellular placement of electrical synapses

The paper shows cAMP signaling directs gap junction trafficking to assemble and position electrical synapses in C. elegans motor neurons.

Long-term precision editing of neural circuits in mammals using engineered gap junction hemichannels

The paper develops engineered gap junction hemichannels to enable precise, long-term neural circuit editing in mammals by enabling communication between distinct cell types.

Electrical synaptic transmission requires a postsynaptic scaffolding protein

The paper shows that ZO1, a scaffolding protein, is required for Connexin localization at electrical synapses, which is necessary for functional gap junctions and synaptic transmission.

From spikes to intercellular waves: tuning intercellular Ca2+ signaling dynamics modulates organ size control

This paper identifies two cell populations with distinct Ca2+ signaling dynamics and shows how hormonal signals and gap junction communication regulate organ size.

Identification and classification of innexin gene transcripts in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus

This study identifies and classifies 12 innexin isoforms and their splicing variants in the central nervous system of Limax valentianus, providing insights into their regulatory mechanisms.

Shank3 mutations impair electrical synapse scaffolding and transmission in mouse brain

This study shows that Shank3 mutations disrupt the association between NMDARs and connexin36, impairing electrical synaptic transmission and synchrony in mouse inferior olive.

GENERATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IMMORTALIZED MOUSE CORTICAL ASTROCYTES FROM WILDTYPE AND CONNEXIN43 KNOCKOUT MICE

The paper generates and characterizes immortalized mouse cortical astrocyte cell lines from wildtype and Cx43 knockout mice, showing they maintain astrocyte markers and functional properties.

Repairing neural damage in a C. elegans chemosensory circuit using genetically engineered synapses

The paper demonstrates that genetically engineered synapses can restore chemotaxis in a damaged C. elegans chemosensory circuit by amplifying weakened signals through unintended lateral connections.

Effects of constitutive and acute Connexin 36 deficiency on brain-wide susceptibility to PTZ-induced neuronal hyperactivity

This study investigates how Cx36 deficiency and PTZ-induced neuronal hyperactivity interact, finding region-specific susceptibility and acute downregulation of Cx36.

Beneficial contribution of iPSC-progeny to connexin 47 dynamics during demyelination-remyelination

The paper investigates how iPSC-derived neural progeny affect connexin 47 dynamics during demyelination and remyelination, showing their role in panglial network reconstruction.

Activity-dependent long-term potentiation of electrical synapses in the mammalian thalamus

The paper demonstrates that tonic spiking in one neuron of an electrically coupled pair induces long-term potentiation of electrical synapses, with asymmetry and calcium dependence.

Gap junctions deliver malonyl-CoA from soma to germline to support embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper shows malonyl-CoA is transported from the soma to the germline via gap junctions in C. elegans to support embryogenesis.

Gap junction coding innexin in Lymnaea stagnalis: sequence analysis and characterization in tissues and the central nervous system

The paper identifies and characterizes eight innexin genes in the CNS of Lymnaea stagnalis, revealing their evolutionary origin and tissue-specific expression patterns.

Intercellular Conduction Optimizes Arterial Network Function and Conserves Blood Flow Homeostasis during Cerebrovascular Challenges

The paper shows that intercellular electrical signaling through gap junctions coordinates vascular responses to maintain blood flow during cerebrovascular challenges.

Evidence of decreased gap junction coupling between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex of depressed suicides

The paper investigates decreased gap junction coupling between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex of depressed suicides using immunofluorescence, confocal imaging, and RNA-sequencing.

Plasticity of the electrical connectome of C. elegans

The paper examines how environmental stress induces plasticity in the electrical connectome of C. elegans by altering innexin expression in specific neuron types.

PARIS, an optogenetic method for functionally mapping gap junctions

PARIS is an optogenetic tool that enables high-resolution mapping of functional gap junctions in cultured cells and Drosophila neurons.

Astrocyte networks and intercellular calcium propagation

The paper presents a framework to model intercellular calcium wave propagation in astrocyte networks and investigates how network topologies affect wave characteristics.

Heterocellular coupling between amacrine cell and ganglion cells

The paper maps heterocellular coupling between ganglion cells and amacrine cells in the mammalian retina using high-resolution TEM and identifies specific coupling patterns and metabolic interactions.

Dopamine maintains network synchrony via direct modulation of gap junctions in the crustacean cardiac ganglion

The paper investigates how dopamine maintains network synchrony in crab cardiac ganglion neurons by modulating gap junctions, preventing desynchronization caused by serotonin or K+ channel blockers.

Effects of gap junction misexpression on synapses between auditory sensory neurons and the giant fiber of Drosophila melanogaster.

This study shows that misexpression of ShakB isoforms in Drosophila JONs alters gap junction formation with the GF but not chemical synapses, with ShakB(N+16) increasing gap junctions and ShakB(N) abolishing dye coupling.

Asymmetry of an intracellular scaffold at vertebrate electrical synapses

The paper identifies Tjp1b as an intracellular scaffold required for electrical synapse formation and shows its asymmetric localization and function at the postsynaptic side.