Loop Gating of Connexin Hemichannels Involves Movement of Pore-lining Residues in the First Extracellular Loop Domain

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 284; no. 7; pp. 4484 - 4493
• Main Authors: Verselis, Vytas K., Trelles, Maria P., Rubinos, Clio, Bargiello, Thaddeus A., Srinivas, Miduturu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 13.02.2009; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Amino Acid Substitution; Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Cell Membrane - genetics; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Connexins - genetics; Connexins - metabolism; Eye Proteins - genetics; Eye Proteins - metabolism; Ion Channel Gating - physiology; Membrane Transport, Structure, Function, and Biogenesis; Mutation, Missense; Protein Structure, Tertiary - physiology; Rats; Xenopus laevis

Unapposed connexin hemichannels exhibit robust closure in response to membrane hyperpolarization and extracellular calcium. This form of gating, termed “loop gating,” is largely responsible for regulating hemichannel opening, thereby preventing cell damage through excessive flux of ions and metaboli...