Interactions between ankyrin-G, Plakophilin-2, and Connexin43 at the cardiac intercalated disc.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The early description of the intercalated disc defined 3 structures, all of them involved in cell-cell communication: desmosomes, gap junctions, and adherens junctions. Current evidence demonstrates that molecules not involved in providing a physical continuum between cells also populate the intercalated disc. Key among them is the voltage-gated sodium channel complex. An important component of this complex is the cytoskeletal adaptor protein Ankyrin-G (AnkG).

Objective

To test the hypothesis that AnkG partners with desmosome and gap junction molecules and exerts a functional effect on intercellular communication in the heart.

Methods and results

We used a combination of microscopy, immunochemistry, patch-clamp, and optical mapping to assess the interactions

SUBMITTER: Sato PY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3139453 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature