Molecular Biology Commons^™

Ph Sensitivity Of Connexin 50 Hemichannels: H95 And Beyond, Leah Volk

Biology Theses

Gap junction channels formed by connexin proteins are critical for the health and function of the vertebrate lens. It is important to understand how these channels are affected by pH because a pH gradient exists in lens tissue. Intracellular pH (pH_i) is a regulator of gap junction coupling, and different connexins show different sensitivities to pH_i. A “Particle-Receptor” model for pH-dependent channel closure involves the intramolecular interaction between the cytoplasmic tail of the connexin and a region near the mouth of the channel dependent on a highly conserved histidine residue at position 95. While this model …