Heterotypic Docking

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A gap junction channel is formed by proper docking of two hemichannels at their extracellular domains. Proper docking and formation of functional gap junction channel are only possible between docking compatible connexins. We are very interested in the docking mechanisms in different connexins, including Cx26, Cx32, and heart connexins.

Related Publications

  1. Bai, D. and Wang, A.H.(2014) Extracellular domains play different roles in gap junction formation and docking compatibility. Biochem J458, 1-10 [link to PubMed]
  2. Gong, X.Q., Nakagawa, S., Tsukihara, T. and Bai, D. (2013) A gap junction docking mechanism revealed by functional rescue of a human disease-linked connexin mutant. J Cell Sci 126, 3113-3120 [link to PubMed]
  3. Nakagawa, S., Gong, X.Q., Maeda, S., Dong, Y., Misumi, Y., Tsukihara, T. and Bai, D.* (2011) Asparagine175 of connexin32 is a critical residue for docking and forming functional heterotypic gap junction channels with connexin26. J Biol Chem 286, 19672-19681 [link to PubMed]