Connexin Methods And Protocols (methods In Molecular Biology)
by Roberto Bruzzone /
2000 / English / PDF
5.1 MB Download
Direct cell–cell communication is a common property of
multicellular organisms that is achieved through membrane channels
which are organized in gap junctions. The protein subunits of these
intercellular channels, the connexins, form a multigene family that
has been investigated in great detail in recent years. It has now
become clear that, in different tissues, connexins speak several
languages that control specific cellular functions. This progress
has been made possible by the availability of new molecular tools
and the improvement of basic techniques for the study of membrane
channels, as well as by the use of genetic approaches to study
protein function in vivo. More important, connexins have gained
visibility because mutations in some connexin genes have been found
to be linked to human genetic disorders. Connexin Methods and
Protocols presents in detail a collection of te- niques currently
used to study the cellular and molecular biology of connexins and
their physiological properties. The field of gap junctions and
connexin research has always been characterized by a
multidisciplinary approach c- bining morphology, biochemistry,
biophysics, and cellular and molecular biology. This book provides
a series of cutting-edge protocols and includes a large spectrum of
practical methods that are available to investigate the fu- tion of
connexin channels. Connexin Methods and Protocols is divided into
three main parts.
Direct cell–cell communication is a common property of
multicellular organisms that is achieved through membrane channels
which are organized in gap junctions. The protein subunits of these
intercellular channels, the connexins, form a multigene family that
has been investigated in great detail in recent years. It has now
become clear that, in different tissues, connexins speak several
languages that control specific cellular functions. This progress
has been made possible by the availability of new molecular tools
and the improvement of basic techniques for the study of membrane
channels, as well as by the use of genetic approaches to study
protein function in vivo. More important, connexins have gained
visibility because mutations in some connexin genes have been found
to be linked to human genetic disorders. Connexin Methods and
Protocols presents in detail a collection of te- niques currently
used to study the cellular and molecular biology of connexins and
their physiological properties. The field of gap junctions and
connexin research has always been characterized by a
multidisciplinary approach c- bining morphology, biochemistry,
biophysics, and cellular and molecular biology. This book provides
a series of cutting-edge protocols and includes a large spectrum of
practical methods that are available to investigate the fu- tion of
connexin channels. Connexin Methods and Protocols is divided into
three main parts.
