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Ocular lens gap junctions: Protein expression, assembly, and structure‐function analysis
Author(s) -
Kistler Joerg,
Evans Clive,
Donaldson Paul,
Bullivant Stanley,
Bond Jacqui,
Eastwood Sharon,
Roos Marc,
Dong Yimin,
Gruijters Terry,
Engel Andreas
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070310504
Subject(s) - gap junction , lens (geology) , lens fiber , biophysics , lipid bilayer , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , materials science , biochemistry , membrane , intracellular , paleontology
Recent advances in understanding lens fiber gap junction formation are reviewed. These include studies of junctional protein expression in the embryonic lens, and of age related changes affecting gap junction structure and composition in the adult lens. An in vitro assembly system based on detergent solubilized pore complexes and endogenous lipids has been developed to provide information on the molecular interactions involved in gap junction formation and to provide material for structure analysis. Important information on the electrical properties of lens gap junction channels is obtained using electrophysiological techniques including planar lipid bilayer analysis and patch clamping. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.