Anti-Connexin 43 Antibody, CT Antibody, clone 1C5.1 clone 1C5.1, from mouse

Gap junction alpha-1 protein (UniProt P17302; also known as Connexin-43, Cx43, Gap junction 43 kDa heart protein) is encoded by the GJA1 (also known as AVSD3, CMDR, GJAL, HSS, ODDD) gene (Gene ID 2697) in human. A gap junction consists of a cluster of closely packed pairs of transmembrane channels, the connexins, through which materials of low molecular weight diffuse from one cell to a neighboring cell. Connexin-43 is a polytopic integral membrane protein oligomerizes into a hexamer or connexon. It is he most ubiquitously expressed connexin and contains a long C-terminal tail, an N-terminal domain, and multiple transmembrane domains. The C-terminal tail domain of human connexin-43 contains 50 amino acids and includes post-translational modification sites, as well as binding sites for transcription factors, cytoskeleton elements, and other proteins. The C-terminal tail regulates pH gating and channel assembly, whereas the N-terminal domain is involved in channel gating and oligomerization and controls the switch between channel open and closed states. Mutations in connexin-43 result in multiple disorders, such as oculodentodigital dysplasia that is characterized by microcornea, microphthalmia, and syndactyly of the fourth and fifth fingers. Connexin-43 is shown to negatively regulate growth of colon cancer cells, in part by enhancing apoptosis. Loss of connexin-43 expression in colorectal cancers is correlated with significantly shorter relapse-free and overall survival.Ref.:Sirnes, S et al. (2012). Int. J. Cancer 131, 570-581.Naus, CC et al. (2010). Nat. Rev. Cancer. 10, 435-441.