摘要
Gap junctions form intercellular channels for direct exchange of metabolites and second messengers between adjacent cells. The existence of a multi-gene family encoding gap junction proteins, i. e. the connexins (Cx), has been recently demonstrated. Despite the overall sequence homologies and a similar predicted structural motif, their functional properties differ in various tissues. Because of coexpression of two or more connexin proteins in one tissue, determination of properties specific for each connexin is complicated. The regulation of expression of gap junctions and their roles in cellular activities remain mostly unelucidative. Controlled manipulation of connexin molecules in Xenopus oocyte expression system has been use-
