Phosphatase-resistant gap junctions inhibit pathological remodeling and prevent arrhythmias.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Posttranslational phosphorylation of connexin43 (Cx43) has been proposed as a key regulatory event in normal cardiac gap junction expression and pathological gap junction remodeling. Nonetheless, the role of Cx43 phosphorylation in the context of the intact organism is poorly understood.

Objective

To establish whether specific Cx43 phosphorylation events influence gap junction expression and pathological remodeling.

Methods and results

We generated Cx43 germline knock-in mice in which serines 325/328/330 were replaced with phosphomimetic glutamic acids (S3E) or nonphosphorylatable alanines (S3A). The S3E mice were resistant to acute and chronic pathological gap junction remodeling and displayed diminished susceptibility to the induction of ventricular arrhyt

SUBMITTER: Remo BF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3126103 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature