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Enhanced Neurite Outgrowth In Pc12 Cells Mediated By Connexin Hemichannels And Atp, Daniel Belliveau, M. Bani-Yagoub, R. Mcgirr, C. Naus, W. Rushlow

Daniel J. Belliveau

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 …