Cation permeation through connexin 43 hemichannels is cooperative, competitive and saturable with parameters depending on the permeant species

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011 Jun 17;409(4):603-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.05.031. Epub 2011 May 12.

Abstract

Kinetics of permeation through connexin 43-EGFP hemichannels (Cx43-EGFP HCs) were evaluated in divalent cation-free solutions, which enhance HC open probability and thus, allow measurements during initial velocity. Three cations that become fluorescent upon binding to intracellular nucleic acids [ethidium (Etd), propidium (Prd) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)] and Cx43-EGFP or Cx43 wild type HeLa cell transfectants (Cx43-EGFP- and Cx43-WT-HeLa cells, respectively) were used. Levels of Cx43-EGFP at the cell periphery and rate of dye uptake were directly related. The rate of uptake of each dye reached saturation consistent with a facilitated transport mechanism. Before saturation, the relation between rate of uptake and concentration of each dye was sigmoidal with Hill coefficients >1, indicating positive cooperativity of transport at low concentrations. The maximal rate of Etd uptake was not affected by the presence of DAPI and vice versa, but under each condition the apparent affinity constant of the main permeant molecule increased significantly consistent with competitive inhibition or competition for binding sites within the channel. Moreover, Cx43-EGFP and Cx43-WT HCs had similar permeability properties, indicating that EGFP bound to the C-terminal of Cx43 does not significantly alter the permeability of Cx43 HCs to positively charged molecules. Thus, competitive inhibition of permeation through hemichannels might contribute to cellular retention of essential molecules and/or uptake inhibition of toxic compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cations / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability*
  • Connexin 43 / genetics
  • Connexin 43 / metabolism*
  • Ethidium / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Propidium / metabolism

Substances

  • Cations
  • Connexin 43
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Indoles
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Propidium
  • DAPI
  • Ethidium