Anti-Connexin 26: Rabbit Connexin 26 Antibody

Gap junctions are formed by the assembly of Connexin (Cx) proteins. The type and degree of Cx expression in each tissue is cell-, age-, and stage-dependent, and such regulation is tightly controlled. Cx26 is one member of a family of related gap-junction channel-forming proteins, each of which is commonly named from its molecular weight (Cx26, Cx30 etc.). The genes for 20 different Connexin proteins are present in the human genome. Six Connexins oligomerise intracellularly to form the gap junction channel unit of an individual cell, a Connexon, which is trafficked to the plasma membrane. There, the Connexons of one cell align symmetrically with those of its neighbor to create continuous aqueous pores that functionally couple the adjacent cells. Connexons aggregate in the plane of the plasma membrane to form a gap junction plaque. Different Connexin proteins differ in the size and charge characteristics of the channel and in their regulatory properties. Most cells that form gap junctions express more than one Connexin isotype. There is thus potentially a wide variety of possible gap junction compositions, each with different physiological characteristics. All the Connexins in an individual Connexon maybe of the same type (homomeric) or heteromeric Connexons may be formed by oligomerization between different Connexins. The Connexon composition each side of the junction maybe the same (homotypic junctions) or heterotypic junctions can be formed where the Connexons of one cell are different in composition from those of its neighbor. Within the same junction plaque, there may be separate homomeric, homotypic regions of differing composition, or a cell may ferry different Connexins to separate locations. Gap channels are regulated through post-translational modifications of the C’-terminal cytoplasmic tail and phosphorylation modulates assembly and their physiological properties. They are continuously synthesized and degraded, allowing tissues to rapidly adapt to changing environmental conditions. Connexins play a key role in many physiological processes including cardiac and smooth muscle contraction, regulation of neuronal excitability, epithelial electrolyte transport and keratinocyte differentiation.²