Connexins (Cxs) 40, 43, and 45 are expressed in many different tissues, but most abundantly in the heart, blood vessels, and the nervous system. We examined formation and gating properties of heterotypic gap junction (GJ) channels assembled between cells expressing wild-type Cx40, Cx43, or Cx45 and their fusion forms tagged with color variants of green fluorescent protein. We show that these Cxs, with exception of Cxs 40 and 43, are compatible to form functional heterotypic GJ channels. Cx40 and Cx43 hemichannels are unable or effectively impaired in their ability to dock and/or assemble into junctional plaques. When cells expressing Cx45 contacted those expressing Cx40 or Cx43 they readily formed junctional plaques with cell-cell coupling characterized by asymmetric junctional conductance dependence on transjunctional voltage, V(j). Cx40/Cx45 heterotypic GJ channels preferentially exhibit V(j)-dependent gating transitions between open and residual states with a conductance of approximately 42 pS; transitions between fully open and closed states with conductance of approximately 52 pS in magnitude occur at substantially lower ( approximately 10-fold) frequency. Cx40/Cx45 junctions demonstrate electrical signal transfer asymmetry that can be modulated between unidirectional and bidirectional by small changes in the difference between holding potentials of the coupled cells. Furthermore, both fast and slow gating mechanisms of Cx40 exhibit a negative gating polarity.

Intracellular pH (pH i ) can change during physiological and pathological conditions causing significant changes of electrical and metabolic cell-cell communication through gap junction (GJ) channels. In HeLa cells expressing wild-type connexin45 (Cx45) as well as Cx45 and Cx43 tagged with EGFP, we examined how pH i affects junctional conductance (g j ) and g j dependence on transjunctional voltage (V j ). To characterize V j gating, we fit the g j -V j relation using a stochastic four-state model containing one V j -sensitive gate in each apposed hemichannel (aHC); aHC open probability was a Boltzmann function of the fraction of V j across it. Using the model, we estimated gating parameters characterizing sensitivity to V j and number of functional channels. In homotypic Cx45 and heterotypic Cx45/Cx43-EGFP GJs, pH i changes from 7.2 to ∼8.0 shifted g j -V j dependence of Cx45 aHCs along the V j axis resulting in increased probability of GJ channels being in the fully open state without change in the slope of g j dependence on V j . In contrast, acidification shifted g j -V j dependence in the opposite direction, reducing open probability; acidification also reduced the number of functional channels. Correlation between the number of channels in Cx45-EGFP GJs and maximal g j achieved under alkaline conditions showed that only ∼4% of channels were functional. The acid dissociation constant (pK a ) of g j -pH i dependence of Cx45/Cx45 GJs was ∼7. The pK a of heterotypic Cx45/Cx43-EGFP GJs was lower, ∼6.7, between the pK a s of Cx45 and Cx43-EGFP (∼6.5) homotypic GJs. In summary, pH i significantly modulates junctional conductance of Cx45 by affecting both V j gating and number of functional channels.cell-cell coupling | pH-dependent gating | EGFP | hemichannel | connexon C hanges in intracellular pH (pH i ) take place under different physiological and pathological conditions, and H + ions have a broad effect on cell function including cell-cell electrical and metabolic communication mediated by gap junctions (GJs) and paracrine signaling through nonjunctional/unapposed hemichannels (1-4). Modest pH i changes have been observed under normal physiological conditions [e.g., changes of neuronal activity or the resting potential (5, 6)], and greater changes occur under pathological conditions such as hypoxia, ischemia, or epilepsy (4,7,8).During the last decade, significant progress has been made toward understanding the molecular mechanisms of pH-dependent modulation of GJs and hemichannels (2, 9-12). Several domains in the cytoplasmic loop and C terminus of connexin43 (Cx43) appear to be involved in pH-dependent gating (2, 9, 11, 12). Furthermore, pH-dependent interaction of connexins with other cytoplasmic proteins may be important in the remodeling of connexins and in protection from lesion spread after local ischemic injury (13,14).GJs provide channels with an inner diameter of ∼1.4 nm between the interiors of the coupled cells. This link allows the spread of electrical potential and small metabolites. Each GJ cha...

Connexins, a family of membrane proteins, form gap junction (GJ) channels that provide a direct pathway for electrical and metabolic signaling between cells. We developed a stochastic four-state model describing gating properties of homotypic and heterotypic GJ channels each composed of two hemichannels (connexons). GJ channel contain two "fast" gates (one per hemichannel) oriented opposite in respect to applied transjunctional voltage (V(j)). The model uses a formal scheme of peace-linear aggregate and accounts for voltage distribution inside the pore of the channel depending on the state, unitary conductances and gating properties of each hemichannel. We assume that each hemichannel can be in the open state with conductance gamma(h,o) and in the residual state with conductance gamma(h,res), and that both gamma(h,o) and gamma(h,res) rectifies. Gates can exhibit the same or different gating polarities. Gating of each hemichannel is determined by the fraction of V(j) that falls across the hemichannel, and takes into account contingent gating when gating of one hemichannel depends on the state of apposed hemichannel. At the single-channel level, the model revealed the relationship between unitary conductances of hemichannels and GJ channels and how this relationship is affected by gamma(h,o) and gamma(h,res) rectification. Simulation of junctions containing up to several thousands of homotypic or heterotypic GJs has been used to reproduce experimentally measured macroscopic junctional current and V(j)-dependent gating of GJs formed from different connexin isoforms. V(j)-gating was simulated by imitating several frequently used experimental protocols: 1), consecutive V(j) steps rising in amplitude, 2), slowly rising V(j) ramps, and 3), series of V(j) steps of high frequency. The model was used to predict V(j)-gating of heterotypic GJs from characteristics of corresponding homotypic channels. The model allowed us to identify the parameters of V(j)-gates under which small changes in the difference of holding potentials between cells forming heterotypic junctions effectively modulates cell-to-cell signaling from bidirectional to unidirectional. The proposed model can also be used to simulate gating properties of unapposed hemichannels.

Cerebral venous steal is a potential cause of secondary brain injury in areas of increased tissue pressure. It can be eliminated with increased venous pressure. Increased venous pressure may recruit the collapsed vascular network and correct perifocal perfusion maldistribution. This resembles how positive end expiratory pressure recruits collapsed airways and decreases the ventilation/perfusion mismatch.