Biophysical evidence that connexin-36 forms functional gap junction channels between pancreatic mouse β-cells
Abstract
Connexin-36 (Cx36) is the only gap junction protein that has been unambiguously identified in rodent pancreatic β-cells. However, properties of gap junction channel unitary currents between β-cells remain unrevealed. To address whether Cx36 forms functional channels in β-cells, we characterized biophysical properties of macro- and microscopic junctional currents recorded from dual whole cell voltage clamp isolated pairs of dispersed mouse β-cells. Electrical coupling was recorded in 80% of cell pairs with a junctional conductance ( g j ) of 355 ± 45 pS ( n = 20). Transjunctional voltage dependence was identified in three of seven cell pairs with high-input membrane resistances. Normalized steady-state g j ( G j ) and transjunctional-voltage relation were well described by a two-state Boltzmann equation [maximal conductance ( G max ) = 1.0, voltage-insensitive conductance ( G min ) = 0.3 and 0.28, voltage gating sensitivity ( A) = 0.21 and 0.23, and voltage at which one-half of the initial voltage-dependent conductance was reached ( V o ) = −85 and 87 mV for negative and positive potentials, respectively]. Halothane reversibly uncoupled β-cell pairs, and, during recovery, unitary conductances of 5–10 pS were recorded while using patch pipettes containing mainly CsCl. Although these properties are similar to those previously described for Cx36 channels in mammalian cell systems, we found that β-cell junctional currents were insensitive to quinine. Cx36 transcript and protein expression in islets and freshly dispersed cell preparations was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. In conclusion, biophysical properties of junctional channels between β-cells are similar but not identical to those previously described for homomeric Cx36 channels. Cell type-specific mechanisms that may account for these differences are discussed.
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The gap junctional conductance between β-cells and δ-cells is estimated to be 23 pS, only about 10% of that between pairs of β-cells.
“We estimate (Equation 3.2. in ref. 26) the gap junctional conductance between β-cells and δ-cells to be 23 pS.”
From Loss of electrical β-cell to δ-cell coupling underlies impaired hypoglycaemia-induced glucagon secretion in type-1 diabetes (2024) · cites this paper as [28]
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“This is only ~10% of that between pairs of β-cells 26–28 , which may reflect the lower expression of Gjd2 in δ-cells 16 .”
- Authors
- Moreno, A. P., Berthoud, V. M., Pérez-Palacios, G., & Pérez-Armendariz, E. M.
- Affiliations
- Indiana University School of Medicine (US)
- ORCID
- Berthoud, Viviana M.
- Venue
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 288
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- E948-E956
- ISSN
- 0193-1849 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1555
- OpenAlex
- W2149800898
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL063969, R01 HL-63969-05)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Connexins and lens biology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
- Keywords
- connexin 36, gap junction channels, pancreatic beta cells, electrical coupling, junctional conductance, voltage-dependent conductance, islets
- MeSH terms
- Gap Junction delta-2 Protein, Animals, Biophysics, Cell Communication, Cells, Cultured, Eye Proteins, Islets of Langerhans, Membrane Potentials, Gap Junctions, Connexins, Mice
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