Open AccessPhosphorylation of connexin43 at MAPK, PKC or CK1 sites each distinctly alter the kinetics of epidermal wound repair
Author(s) -
Kristin J. Lastwika,
Clarence A. Dunn,
Joell L. Solan,
Paul D. Lampe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.234633
Subject(s) - phosphorylation , wound healing , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , mapk/erk pathway , connexin , kinase , gap junction , protein kinase c , in vitro , pharmacology , biochemistry , immunology , genetics , intracellular
The gap junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a key player in wound healing and inhibitors of Cx43, which speed epidermal wound healing, are currently in clinical trials. Here, we provide direct in vivo evidence that specific phosphorylation events on Cx43 change the physiological response during wound healing. Blocking phosphorylation by mutation of serines in Cx43 at PKC or CK1 sites significantly slowed the rate of wound closure in vivo and in vitro and resulted in a thicker epidermal layer after reepithelialization. Conversely, preventing Cx43 phosphorylation by MAPK site mutation significantly increased the rate of wound closure in vivo. Defects in migration, but not proliferation, in all mutants were partially rescued in vitro by changing serines to aspartic or glutamic acid. These data prove that specific Cx43 phosphorylation events play an important role at different stages of wound healing. Thus, a clear physiological understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of kinase activation and consequent effects on gap junctions could lead to a more targeted approach to modulating Cx43 expression during wound healing.