间隙连接蛋白家族新成员Cx36

Cx36是哺乳动物间隙连接蛋白(connexin,Cx)家族γ亚类的第一个成员,它参与形成间隙连接,介导相邻细胞间的物质和信息的直接交换。间隙连接是神经系统构成电突触的结构基础,参与调控神经冲动信息的传递和复杂神经网络的整合,而Cx36是唯一一个在神经系统中优先表达的Cx,因此成为电生理研究领域的热点。就Cx36的发现过程、结构和定位进行了总结,并着重介绍它在神经系统中的功能和调节机制。

Cx36-A New Member of Connexin Family

Connexins are the protein subunits of the gap junction intercellular channels, which allow direct metabolic and electri cal communication between adjacent cells. Cx36 is the first mammalian member of γ-subgroup of the connexin family, and prefer entially expresses in cell types of neural origin for the regulation of the transduction of Neural signals and integration of neural net work, in the present review we summarize the evidence of the regulations and functions of Cx36.