RGD Reference Report - Enhanced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells mediated by connexin hemichannels and ATP. - Rat Genome Database

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Enhanced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells mediated by connexin hemichannels and ATP.

Authors: Belliveau, DJ  Bani-Yaghoub, M  McGirr, B  Naus, CC  Rushlow, WJ 
Citation: Belliveau DJ, etal., J Biol Chem. 2006 Jul 28;281(30):20920-31. Epub 2006 May 26.
RGD ID: 1582674
Pubmed: PMID:16731531   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1074/jbc.M600026200   (Journal Full-text)

Gap junctions have traditionally been described as transmembrane channels that facilitate intercellular communication via the passage of small molecules. Connexins, the basic building blocks of gap junctions, are expressed in most mammalian tissues including the developing and adult central nervous system. During brain development, connexins are temporally and spatially regulated suggesting they play an important role in the proper formation of the central nervous system. In the current study, connexins 32 and 43 were overexpressed in PC12 cells to determine whether connexins are involved in neuronal differentiation. Both connexin 32 and 43 were appropriately trafficked to the cell membrane following overexpression and resulted in the formation of functional gap junctions. Connexin overexpression was found to cause enhanced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor to initiate neuritogenesis. Surprisingly, however, enhanced neurite outgrowth was found to be the consequence of functional hemichannel formation as opposed to traditional intercellular communication. Additional analysis revealed that ATP was released into the media likely through hemichannels and acted on purinergic receptors to cause enhanced neurite outgrowth. Collectively, the results of the current study suggest that connexins may play an important role in neuronal differentiation by non-traditional mechanisms.



Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Gja1RatATP transport  IMP  RGD 
Gja1Ratneuron projection morphogenesis  IMP  RGD 

Cellular Component

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Gja1Ratconnexin complex  IDA  RGD 
Gja1Ratgap junction  IDA  RGD 

Molecular Function

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Gja1Ratgap junction channel activity  IDA  RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Gja1  (gap junction protein, alpha 1)


Additional Information