Gap junction channels of insects exhibit a residual conductance

Robert Weingart, Feliksas F. Bukauskas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Formation of gap junction coupled cell pairs was used to assess the basic properties of single gap junction channels. For this purpose, two single cells (clone C6/36, derived from larvae of an insect, Aedes albopictus) were manoeuvred against each other to provoke gap junction channel insertion. Intercellular current flow was measured with a dual voltage-clamp method. Utilizing this approach, we were able to demonstrate that gap junction channels, after formation, do not close completely upon application of a transjunctional voltage gradient, Vj. Instead, they exhibit a residual conductance, γj(residual). On average, γj(residual) was 64±4 pS (n=40). This corresponds to about 1/6 of the conductance of a fully open channel. The existence of γj(residual) explains the observation that the conductance of the entire gap junction, gj, decreases only partially at large Vj.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-194
Number of pages3
JournalPflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology
Volume424
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1993
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Insect cells
  • gap junction
  • residual conductance
  • single channel conductance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gap junction channels of insects exhibit a residual conductance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this