Table 1.

Mathematical treatment of data obtained from Arf6Q67L-expressing and control cells reveals a strong reduction of gap junction contacts induced by Arf6Q67L

We traced the total cell surface area and total gap junction contact areas (A) by selecting regions of interest on fluorescence images. Cell surface areas and junctional interfaces were calculated using a built-in micrometer. Image data were analysed using MetaMorph 7.1. Transfected cells similar to the one presented in Fig. 5 were used for analyses. We also measured the area of the nucleus in each cell as a reference zone related to total cell surface size. Arf6Q67L induces a dramatic decrease in Cx43-GFP gap junction area; this decrease in the gap junction area is accompanied by an only slight reduction in total cell size as judged by nuclear size