Rabbit Anti-Human Pannexin 1 (a.a. 61-106) Polyclonal antibody

Connexins and pannexins are two families of channel forming proteins that are able to pass small molecules to achieve communication between cells. While connexins have been recognized to mediate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), pannexins are far less known. Our previous study reported the potential role of TGF-beta 1 in mediating of connexins in osteocytes in vitro. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the influence of TGF-beta 1 on cell-cell communication based on gap junctions assembled by connexins and pannexins in vitro and ex vivo. We first showed that TGF-beta 1 positively affected the elongation of dendritic processes of osteocytes. Our data indicated that TGF-beta 1 increased expressions of connexin43 (Cx43) and pannexin1 (panx1), which are indispensable for hemichannel formation in gap junctions, in osteocytes in vitro and ex vivo. TGF-beta 1 enhanced gap junction formation and impacted cell-cell communication in living osteocytes, as indicated by the scrape loading and Lucifer yellow transfer assays. TGF-beta 1 enhanced the expressions of Cx43 and panx1 via activation of ERK1/2 and Smad3/4 signalling. The TGF-beta 1-restored expressions of Cx43 and panx1 in osteocytes in the presence of an ERK inhibitor, U0126, further demonstrated the direct participation of Smad3/4 signalling. TGF-beta 1 increased the accumulation of Smad3 in the nuclear region (immunofluorescence assay) and promoted the enrichment of Smad3 at the binding sites of the promoters of Gja1 (Cx43) and Panx1 (ChIP assay), thereby initiating the enhanced gene expression. These results provide a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of cell-cell communication in osteocytes induced by TGF-beta 1.

Cryo-EM structures of plasma membrane ATP release channel pannexin 1 reveal heptameric architecture, wide pore and a constriction potentially restricting the size of permeable substrates. Combined with functional assays, they offer insights into channel gating. The plasma membrane adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release channel pannexin 1 (PANX1) has been implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological processes associated with purinergic signaling, including cancer progression, apoptotic cell clearance, inflammation, blood pressure regulation, oocyte development, epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Here we present near-atomic-resolution structures of human and frog PANX1 determined by cryo-electron microscopy that revealed a heptameric channel architecture. Compatible with ATP permeation, the transmembrane pore and cytoplasmic vestibule were exceptionally wide. An extracellular tryptophan ring located at the outer pore created a constriction site, potentially functioning as a molecular sieve that restricts the size of permeable substrates. The amino and carboxyl termini, not resolved in the density map, appeared to be structurally dynamic and might contribute to narrowing of the pore during channel gating. In combination with functional characterization, this work elucidates the previously unknown architecture of pannexin channels and establishes a foundation for understanding their unique channel properties.