| First Author | Maass K | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Mol Biol Cell | Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 4597-608 |
| PubMed ID | 15282340 | Mgi Jnum | J:95050 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3522555 | Doi | 10.1091/mbc.E04-04-0324 |
| Citation | Maass K, et al. (2004) Defective epidermal barrier in neonatal mice lacking the C-terminal region of connexin43. Mol Biol Cell 15(10):4597-608 |
| abstractText | More than 97% of mice in which the C-terminal region of connexin43 (Cx43) was removed (designated as Cx43K258stop) die shortly after birth due to a defect of the epidermal barrier. The abnormal expression of Cx43K258stop protein in the uppermost layers of the epidermis seems to perturb terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. In contrast to Cx43-deficient mice, neonatal Cx43K258stop hearts show no lethal obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, but signs of dilatation. Electrocardiographies of neonatal hearts reveal repolarization abnormalities in 20% of homozygous Cx43K258stop animals. The very rare adult Cx43K258stop mice show a compensation of the epidermal barrier defect but persisting impairment of cardiac function in echocardiography. Female Cx43K258stop mice are infertile due to impaired folliculogenesis. Our results indicate that the C-terminally truncated Cx43K258stop mice lack essential functions of Cx43, although the truncated Cx43 protein can form open gap junctional channels. |
