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Expression and modulation of connexin 30.2, a novel gap junction protein in the mouse retina.
- Source :
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Visual neuroscience [Vis Neurosci] 2010 Jul; Vol. 27 (3-4), pp. 91-101. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jun 11. - Publication Year :
- 2010
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Abstract
- Mammalian retinae express multiple connexins that mediate the metabolic and electrical coupling of various cell types. In retinal neurons, only connexin 36, connexin 45, connexin 50, and connexin 57 have been described so far. Here, we present an analysis of a novel retinal connexin, connexin 30.2 (Cx30.2), and its regulation in the mouse retina. To analyze the expression of Cx30.2, we used a transgenic mouse line in which the coding region of Cx30.2 was replaced by lacZ reporter DNA. We detected the lacZ signal in the nuclei of neurons located in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer (GCL). In this study, we focused on the GCL and characterized the morphology of the Cx30.2-expressing cells. Using immunocytochemistry and intracellular dye injections, we found six different types of Cx30.2-expressing ganglion cells: one type of ON-OFF, three types of OFF, and two types of ON ganglion cells; among the latter was the RG A1 type. We show that RG A1 cells were heterologously coupled to numerous displaced amacrine cells. Our results suggest that these gap junction channels may be heterotypic, involving Cx30.2 and a connexin yet unidentified in the mouse retina. Gap junction coupling can be modulated by protein kinases, a process that plays a major role in retinal adaptation. Therefore, we studied the protein kinase-induced modulation of coupling between RG A1 and displaced amacrine cells. Our data provide evidence that coupling of RG A1 cells to displaced amacrine cells is mediated by Cx30.2 and that the extent of this coupling is modulated by protein kinase C.
- Subjects :
- Acridine Orange metabolism
Amacrine Cells drug effects
Amacrine Cells metabolism
Animals
Biotin analogs & derivatives
Biotin metabolism
Connexins deficiency
Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology
Gene Expression Regulation drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation genetics
Intermediate Filament Proteins genetics
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Nerve Tissue Proteins genetics
Nestin
Phenylacetates pharmacology
Protein Kinase C metabolism
Retinal Ganglion Cells drug effects
Retinal Ganglion Cells metabolism
Staurosporine pharmacology
Connexins genetics
Connexins metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation physiology
Retina cytology
Retina metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1469-8714
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 3-4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Visual neuroscience
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20537217
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523810000131