Actin cytoskeleton rest stops regulate anterograde traffic of connexin 43 vesicles to the plasma membrane.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The intracellular trafficking of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels presents opportunities to regulate cardiomyocyte gap junction coupling. Although it is known that Cx43 hemichannels are transported along microtubules to the plasma membrane, the role of actin in Cx43 forward trafficking is unknown.

Objective

We explored whether the actin cytoskeleton is involved in Cx43 forward trafficking.

Methods and results

High-resolution imaging reveals that Cx43 vesicles colocalize with nonsarcomeric actin in adult cardiomyocytes. Live-cell fluorescence imaging reveals Cx43 vesicles as stationary or traveling slowly (average speed 0.09 μm/s) when associated with actin. At any time, the majority (81.7%) of vesicles travel at subkinesin rates, suggesting that actin is impo

SUBMITTER: Smyth JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3621031 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature