Jorge E. Contreras
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Connexin‐43 remodelling and arrhythmias: hemichannels as key drivers of cardiac dysfunction Open
The coordinated and effective contraction of the heart relies on transmission of electrical signals from adjacent myocardial cells, primarily via specialized channels called gap junctions. These junctional channels are formed by the dockin…
Endothelial TRPV4–Cx43 signalling complex regulates vasomotor tone in resistance arteries Open
S ‐nitrosylation of Cx43 gap junction channels critically regulates communication between smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. This post‐translational modification also induces the opening of undocked Cx43 hemichannels. However, its …
Impaired S-nitrosylation of Cx43 prevents arrhythmogenicity and myocardial injury upon cardiac stress in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Open
Connexin-43 (Cx43) plays a critical role in the propagation of action potentials and cardiac contractility. In healthy cardiomyocytes, Cx43 is mainly located at the intercalated disk; however, Cx43 remodeling is observed in cardiac patholo…
View article: Large-pore connexin hemichannels function like molecule transporters independent of ion conduction
Large-pore connexin hemichannels function like molecule transporters independent of ion conduction Open
Connexin hemichannels were identified as the first members of the eukaryotic large-pore channel family that mediate permeation of both atomic ions and small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular environments. The convention…
Control of astrocytic Ca2+ signaling by nitric oxide-dependent S-nitrosylation of Ca2+ homeostasis modulator 1 channels Open
Background Astrocytes Ca 2+ signaling play a central role in the modulation of neuronal function. Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) by glutamate released during an increase in synaptic activity triggers coordinated Ca …
Two <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> putative pore-forming proteins, GRA47 and GRA72, influence small molecule permeability of the parasitophorous vacuole Open
Toxoplasma gondii , a medically important intracellular parasite, uses GRA proteins secreted from dense granule organelles to mediate nutrient flux across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). GRA17 and GRA23 are known pore-forming p…
View article: Large-pore connexin hemichannels function as molecule transporters independently of ion conduction
Large-pore connexin hemichannels function as molecule transporters independently of ion conduction Open
Connexin hemichannels were identified as the first members of the eukaryotic large-pore channel family that mediate permeation of both atomic ions and small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular environments. The convention…
GRA47 and GRA72 are <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> pore-forming proteins that influence small molecule permeability of the parasitophorous vacuole Open
Toxoplasma gondii , a medically important intracellular parasite, uses GRA proteins, secreted from dense granule organelles, to mediate nutrient flux across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). GRA17 and GRA23 are known pore-forming…
Remodeled connexin 43 hemichannels alter cardiac excitability and promote arrhythmias Open
Connexin-43 (Cx43) is the most abundant protein forming gap junction channels (GJCs) in cardiac ventricles. In multiple cardiac pathologies, including hypertrophy and heart failure, Cx43 is found remodeled at the lateral side of the interc…
Ultraviolet Radiation and Its Effects on Plants Open
Ultraviolet radiation is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum ranging from 10 to 400 nm, classified into three main categories: UV-A (320–400 nm), UV-B (280–320 nm), and UV-C (100–280 nm). The UV radiation from the sun that crosses th…
A microtubule-connexin-43 regulatory link suppresses arrhythmias and cardiac fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice Open
We found that colchicine administration to Cx43-phospho-deficient dystrophic mice fails to protect against Cx43 remodeling. Conversely, Cx43-phospho-mimic dystrophic mice display a normalized MT network. We envision a bidirectional regulat…
Microtubule-Connexin-43 regulation suppresses arrhythmias and fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice Open
Dilated cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients due to advancements in skeletal muscle therapies yet limited presence of cardiac treatments. The phosphorylation status of gap junction prot…
Cx43 hemichannels contribute to astrocyte-mediated toxicity in sporadic and familial ALS Open
Significance Our results demonstrate that connexin 43 hemichannels are the conduits for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) astrocyte-mediated motor neuron toxicity and disease spread, acting as a common mechanism that can target both fami…
Remodeled Connexin 43 hemichannels alter cardiac excitability and promote arrhythmias Open
Connexin-43 (Cx43) is the most abundant protein forming gap junction channels (GJCs) in cardiac ventricles. In multiple cardiac pathologies, including hypertrophy and heart failure, Cx43 is found remodeled at the lateral side of the interc…
Neutrophils Contribute to ER Stress in Lung Epithelial Cells in the Pristane-Induced Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Mouse Model Open
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), although rare, is a life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Little is known about the pathophysiology of DAH in humans, although increasingly neutrophils, NETosis and inflamma…
Neutrophils contribute to ER stress in lung epithelial cells in the pristane-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage mouse model Open
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), although rare, is a life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Little is known about the pathophysiology of DAH in humans, although increasingly neutrophils, NETosis and inflamma…
Pannexin-1 Channels as Mediators of Neuroinflammation Open
Neuroinflammation is a major component of central nervous system (CNS) injuries and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and brain trauma. The activation of innate immune cells at the …
Free energy and kinetics of cAMP permeation through connexin26 hemichannel with and without voltage Open
The connexin family is a diverse group of highly regulated non-β-barrel wide-pore channels permeable to biological signaling molecules. Despite their critical roles in mediating selective molecular signaling in health and disease, the mole…
View article: ATP and large signaling metabolites flux through caspase-activated Pannexin 1 channels
ATP and large signaling metabolites flux through caspase-activated Pannexin 1 channels Open
Pannexin 1 (Panx1) is a membrane channel implicated in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes via its ability to support release of ATP and other cellular metabolites for local intercellular signaling. However, to date, th…
A novel voltage-clamp/dye uptake assay reveals saturable transport of molecules through CALHM1 and connexin channels Open
Large-pore channels permeable to small molecules such as ATP, in addition to atomic ions, are emerging as important regulators in health and disease. Nonetheless, their mechanisms of molecular permeation and selectivity remain mostly unexp…