The dynamic state of liver gap junctions

✍ Scribed by Yancey, S. Barbara ;Nicholson, Bruce J. ;Revel, Jean-Paul

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 707 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0275-3723
• DOI: 10.1002/jsscb.1981.380160303

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

By the use of a simple, rapid method for the isolation of gap junctions from small amounts of rat liver (2–3 g), we have followed the incorporation of the radiolabeled amino acid precursors ^3^H‐leucine and ^35^S‐methionine into the gap junction protein. In timed studies with ^35^S‐methionine as precursor, the specific activity in the protein is maximal by 4 h after a single injection of 300 μCi/100 g body weight. From the decay in the specific activity with time after a single injection, the gap junction protein has an apparent half‐life of about 19 h. Because of problems of reutilization of radiolabeled amino acid with ^35^S‐methionine as precursor, this apparent halflife probably overestimates the true half‐life and indicates a surprisingly rapid turnover of the gap junction protein. This short half‐life suggests that, in rat liver, the gap junctions may be very responsive to alterations in physiological demands.