Evidence that disruption of connexon particle arrangements in gap junction plaques is associated with inhibition of gap junctional communication by a glycyrrhetinic acid derivative

G S Goldberg; A P Moreno; J F Bechberger; S S Hearn; R R Shivers; D J MacPhee; Y C Zhang; C C Naus

doi:10.1006/excr.1996.0006

Evidence that disruption of connexon particle arrangements in gap junction plaques is associated with inhibition of gap junctional communication by a glycyrrhetinic acid derivative

Exp Cell Res. 1996 Jan 10;222(1):48-53. doi: 10.1006/excr.1996.0006.

Authors

G S Goldberg¹, A P Moreno, J F Bechberger, S S Hearn, R R Shivers, D J MacPhee, Y C Zhang, C C Naus

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anatomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

PMID: 8549672
DOI: 10.1006/excr.1996.0006

Abstract

Glycyrrhetinic acid exhibits many pharmacological activities, including the ability to block gap junctional communication. However, the mechanism of glycyrrhetinic action is not clear. Others have shown that glycyrrhetinic acid apparently binds to a single proteinatious binding site in the plasma membrane. We present evidence that while exposure to glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives may not affect protein synthesis or location, it does seem to alter connexon particle packing in gap junction plaques.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Carbenoxolone
Cell Communication / drug effects*
Connexin 43 / analysis*
Connexin 43 / biosynthesis
Electric Conductivity
Fluorescent Dyes
Gap Junctions / chemistry
Gap Junctions / drug effects*
Gap Junctions / ultrastructure
Glioma
Glycyrrhetinic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
Glycyrrhetinic Acid / pharmacology
Isoquinolines
Rats
Succinates / pharmacology*
Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

Connexin 43
Fluorescent Dyes
Isoquinolines
Succinates
lucifer yellow
Carbenoxolone
Glycyrrhetinic Acid