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. 1992 Aug;3(8):839–850. doi: 10.1091/mbc.3.8.839

Transcription of the gene for the gap junctional protein connexin43 and expression of functional cell-to-cell channels are regulated by cAMP.

P P Mehta 1, M Yamamoto 1, B Rose 1
PMCID: PMC275643  PMID: 1327297

Abstract

We investigated the mechanism by which cyclic AMP (cAMP) induces gap junctional communication via cell-to-cell channels in a communication-deficient rat Morris hepatoma cell line. We found that under basal conditions, the cells transcribe cx43 at a low level but do not transcribe cx26 or cx32. Elevation of intracellular cAMP, which induced communication, increased cx43 mRNA 15- to 40-fold and the rate of cx43 transcription 6-fold. Cx43 protein was detected by immunostaining in junctions of only those cells in which communication had been induced. We found the regulation by cAMP also in other cell lines; namely, in those with a low basal level of cx43 mRNA.

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