Characteristics of C6 glioma cells overexpressing a gap junction protein

• Published in: Cellular and molecular neurobiology Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 163
• Main Authors: Naus, C C, Zhu, D, Todd, S D, Kidder, G M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1992
• Subjects: Animals; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Communication; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Clone Cells - metabolism; Clone Cells - pathology; Connexins; Contact Inhibition; Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioma - pathology; Intercellular Junctions - physiology; Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - physiology; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Rats; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Neoplasm - biosynthesis; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured - metabolism
• ISSN: 0272-4340
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00713370

1. C6 glioma cells transfected with connexin43 cDNA display a dramatic increase in the level of connexin43 mRNA and protein. 2. This overexpression of connexin43 is evident at the cellular level, as revealed with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Transfection with connexin43 cDNA also induced actin stress fibers in these glioma cells. 3. Although we observed up to a 50-fold increase in the level of connexin43 mRNA following transfection, virtually all of this mRNA was present in the polysomal fraction. 4. Overexpression of connexin43 mRNA did not appear to compete with other cellular mRNAs for access to the translational machinery. 5. It is likely that the reduced proliferation rate of the transfected cells, reported earlier, is due to enhanced connexin43 expression and intercellular coupling.