Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
 31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To analyze the molecular basis of gap junctional communication in mouse retina, we examined the expression pattern of the following 13 connexin (Cx) genes: Cx26, Cx30, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, Cx46, and Cx50. By using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions with primer oligonucleotides to murine connexin genes, we detected mRNAs of Cx26, Cx31, Cx32, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx50. Retinae from heterozygous mice with targeted replacement of most of the Cx45 open reading frame by a lacZ reporter gene showed Cx45 promoter activity in somata of the ganglion cell layer and the inner nuclear layer. Immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses with antibodies generated to murine connexin epitopes revealed the presence of Cx36, Cx37, Cx43, and Cx45 proteins: The outer and inner plexiform layer were immunopositive for Cx36 and Cx45. Cx37 immunoreactivity was found in blood vessels of the inner retina. Cx43 immunolabeling was detected in the ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer where it was largely colocalized with immunostaining of glial fibrillary acidic protein suggesting that Cx43-positive cells could be of glial origin. No Cx26 protein was detected in retina by using Cx26 antibodies for immunoblot analyses or confocal microscopy. Furthermore, comparative immunofluorescence analyses of retinae from mice deficient for Cx31, Cx32, or Cx40 with retinae of wild-type mice revealed no specific immunostaining. Our results demonstrate regional specificity in expression of connexin genes in mouse retina and, thus, provide a basis for future assignments of functional defects in connexin-deficient mice to cells in different regions of the retina.
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PMID:Expression patterns of connexin genes in mouse retina. 1095 39

Recent genetic studies have demonstrated the importance of epidermal gap junctions with mutations in four beta-connexins associated with autosomal dominant epidermal disease. One of these disorders, erythrokeratoderma variabilis, is associated with germline mutations in the genes encoding connexins (Cx) Cx31 and Cx30.3. Towards understanding the functional mechanism of Cx31 mutations in epidermal disease, we have developed and characterized a polyclonal antibody raised against human Cx31. Using this antibody to immunostain normal epidermis, Cx31 protein was found to be expressed predominately in the stratum granulosum with a punctate pattern of staining at the plasma membrane. In addition, we used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and, where reagents were available, immunocytochemistry to investigate which other connexins are expressed in the epidermis. Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that there are at least 10 connexins expressed with an overlapping distribution and localization to distinct keratinocyte subpopulations. These data provide additional evidence for multiple gap junction channel types in the human epidermis. Elucidation of this complexity of channel types with respect to specific permeabilities and function of each wildtype and mutant channel type in epidermal biology will require further investigations.
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PMID:Multiple epidermal connexins are expressed in different keratinocyte subpopulations including connexin 31. 1167 38

Differential expression of members of the connexin (Cx) gap junction multigene family permits formation of gap junctions with the varied physiological properties required by different tissues. The aim of this study was to characterize connexin expression and the influence of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) in mouse gingival epithelial cells (GE1). The cells were treated with RA, and expression of Cxs was analyzed by immunofluorescence, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and real-time PCR. RT-PCR revealed that GE1 cells expressed mRNA for Cx26, Cx30.3, Cx31.1, Cx32, and Cx43. In addition, real-time PCR revealed that RA significantly decreased expression of Cx31.1 as compared with control. These results indicate that GE1 cells are useful in analyzing the expression of connexin molecules in oral keratinocytes from oral mucosal lesions.
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PMID:Expression of connexins and the effect of retinoic acid in oral keratinocytes. 2195 60