Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-10-22
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
The connexins are the protein subunits of the gap junction intercellular channels. In the present study a new rat connexin was cloned by degenerate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and its gene isolated from a mouse genomic library. The nucleotide sequence encodes a protein of 321 amino acids (called Cx36) with highly significant homology to the members of the connexin family. In situ hybridization analysis of rat brain and retina showed the strongest expression in neurons of the inferior olive, the olfactory bulb, the CA3/CA4 hippocampal subfields and several brain-stem nuclei. An intense expression was also found in the pineal gland and in the retinal ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers. Experiments with neurotoxins, locally injected in the hippocampus or specifically acting on inferior olivary neurons, confirmed the neuronal localization of Cx36. It is the first connexin to be expressed predominantly in mammalian neurons and its identification paves the way for a molecular approach in the study of the role played by gap junctions in the physiology and the pathology of the mammalian brain.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0953-816X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
10
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1202-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Cloning of a new gap junction gene (Cx36) highly expressed in mammalian brain neurons.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Catania, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't