Figure 5. Cx46G143R decreases cell surface expression.

HeLa cells stably transfected with Cx46, Cx46G143R, or untransfected controls were labeled with Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin. Equal amounts of total protein in cell lysates were mixed with neutravidin-conjugated avidin beads. The total lysate (left panel) and isolated biotinylated (right panel) proteins were analyzed by western blotting using anti-Cx46 antibody. β-actin and GAPDH were used as biotinylation controls. The bands of Cx46 were quantified using densitometry (NIH Image J software). The normalized ratios of biotinylated and total wild-type Cx46 or Cx46G143R were calculated (bottom panel). Cx46G143R versus Cx46, *, P<0.05. n = 4.