A novel N14Y mutation in Connexin26 in keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome: analyses of altered gap junctional communication and molecular structure of N terminus of mutated Connexin26.

ABSTRACT: Connexins (Cxs) are transmembranous proteins that connect adjacent cells via channels known as gap junctions. The N-terminal 21 amino acids of Cx26 are located at the cytoplasmic side of the channel pore and are thought to be essential for the regulation of channel selectivity. We have found a novel mutation, N14Y, in the N-terminal domain of Cx26 in a case of keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome. Reduced gap junctional intercellular communication was observed in the patient's keratinocytes by the dye transfer assay using scrape-loading methods. The effect of this mutation on molecular structure was investigated using synthetic N-terminal peptides from both wild-type and mutated Cx26. Two-dimensional (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism measurements demonstrated that th

SUBMITTER: Arita K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1698798 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature