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Expression of connexin 30 in Xenopus embryos and its involvement in hatching gland function
Author(s) -
Levin Michael,
Mercola Mark
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0177(200009)219:1<96::aid-dvdy1034>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , connexin , gap junction , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , hatching , secretion , medicine , embryogenesis , endocrinology , gene , genetics , zoology , intracellular
Connexins are a family of proteins that assemble to form gap junction channels. Cell‐cell communication through gap junctions mediates many important events in embryogenesis, including limb patterning, lens physiology, neuronal function, left‐right asymmetry, and secretion from gland tissue. We studied the expression of connexin 30 ( Cx 30) in the Xenopus embryo and find that it is expressed in the developing hatching gland and pronephros. To determine whether its expression plays a functional role in the activity of the hatching gland, we exposed pre‐hatching embryos to drugs that block gap junctional communication. This resulted in a continuation of normal growth and development but specifically abolished hatching. The treatment did not affect Cx 30 or Xenopus hatching enzyme transcription, suggesting a post‐transcriptional effect on Cx30 gap junctions. We conclude that junctional communication, possibly mediated by Cx 30, is involved in secretion of hatching enzyme in Xenopus . © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.