A micropatterning approach for imaging dynamic Cx43 trafficking to cell-cell borders

作者：Zhang Shan Shan; Hong SoonGweon; Kleber Andre G; Lee Luke P; Shaw Robin M^*

来源：FEBS LETTERS, 2014, 588(8): 1439-1445.

DOI：10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.002

• Connexin 43
• Micropatterning
• Trafficking
• Cytoskeleton

The precise expression and timely delivery of connexin 43 (Cx43) proteins to form gap junctions are essential for electrical coupling of cardiomyocytes. Growing evidence supports a cytoskeletal-based trafficking paradigm for Cx43 delivery directly to adherens junctions at the intercalated disc. A limitation of Cx43 localization assays in cultured cells, in which cell-cell contacts are essential, is the inability to control for cell geometry or reproducibly generate contact points. Here we present a micropatterned cell pairing system well suited for live microscopy to examine how the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton confer specificity to Cx43 trafficking to precisely defined cell-cell junctions. This system can be adapted for other cell types and used to study dynamic intracellular movements of other proteins important for cell-cell communication.

• 出版日期2014-4-17