Fig. 6.

Gating of Cx46 and Cx50 hemichannels is specified by N-terminal half of the Cx protein, NT through CL. Shown are examples of currents obtained from patches containing multiple active hemichannels. Currents in response to positive (+40 mV) and negative (−90 mV) voltage steps are shown. WT Cx46 sequence is depicted in blue and WT Cx50 in red. Unitary conductances represent slope conductances at V_m = 0 from fits to open channel I–V relations obtained by applying 8 sec ramps to patches containing single hemichannels. Sequence substituted in the chimeras is indicated by color. Substitution of NT-E1 or NT-TM2 sequence of Cx50 onto Cx46 failed to form functional hemichannels.