The 43 kDa connexin protein (connexin 43, Cx43) is a phosphoprotein that is expressed in most tissues, even though the pattern of expression may differ in various cell types (e.g., in the brain, it is found in astrocytes, ependyma and leptomeninges, but not in neurons, oligodendrocytes and pinealocytes; or in the liver, it is present in Ito cells, but not in hepatocytes). Gap junction protein levels change in response to disruption of tissue architecture. For instance, an increased expression of Cx43 was found in early stages of atherosclerosis.
Synonyms: Connexin 43 Antibody; Connexin 43 Antibody - Anti-Connexin-43 antibody produced in rabbit; Cx43 Antibody
MDL Number: MFCD00803532
Storage: -20C
Application: Anti-Connexin-43 may be used in immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry (frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues). Polyclonal antibodies reacting specifically with Cx43 may be applied in diverse cellular and molecular approaches to the study of gap junctions and their properties.A minimum working dilution of 1:8,000 is determined by immunoblotting using a whole extract from mouse brain.A minimum working dilution of 1:400 is determined by indirect immunofluorescent staining of acetone-fixed cultured baby hamster kidney (BHK).A minimum working dilution of 1:2,000 is determined by indirect immunofluorescent staining of rat heart. (Negative on rat liver sections)A minimum working dilution of 1:2,000 is determined by indirect immunoperoxidase staining of trypsin-digested,formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human or animal tissue.
Biochem Physiol Actions: Connexin-43 (Cx-43) might play a vital role in neuronal migration as it resides in radial glial fibers which are closely associated with migrating neurons. It is also involved in transmembrane NAD+ transport. Connexin-43, which is an element of gap junction, facilitates cell-cell communication. Cx-43 is known to induce [Ca2+]i burst phenomenon in uterine artery endothelial cells (UAECs). Elevated expression of Cx-43 has been observed during early stages of human coronary atherosclerosis. Reduction or alteration in the levels or types of connexin expressed in various cell types correlates with tumor progression and metastasis. However, glioma cells transfected with the oncogene neu (c-erb-B2) exhibit a major reduction in intercellular communication with no decrease in overall expression of Cx43. Different states of rat Cx43 phosphorylation are found during development and lactation. Connexin 43 mutations occur in children whose hearts failed to develop asymmetry and lethal heart malformations occur on knocking out this gene in mice. Polyclonal antibodies reacting specifically with Cx438-11 may be applied in diverse cellular and molecular approaches to the study of gap junctions and their properties, and to correlate their expression pattern in a variety of cell types and tissues with physiological functions or pathological conditions.