Document Detail


Connexin-specific cell-to-cell transfer of short interfering RNA by gap junctions.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16037090     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether oligonucleotides the size of siRNA are permeable to gap junctions and whether a specific siRNA for DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) can move from one cell to another via gap junctions, thus allowing one cell to inhibit gene expression in another cell directly. To test this hypothesis, fluorescently labelled oligonucleotides (morpholinos) 12, 16 and 24 nucleotides in length were synthesized and introduced into one cell of a pair using a patch pipette. These probes moved from cell to cell through gap junctions composed of connexin 43 (Cx43). Moreover, the rate of transfer declined with increasing length of the oligonucleotide. To test whether siRNA for pol beta was permeable to gap junctions we used three cell lines: (1) NRK cells that endogenously express Cx43; (2) Mbeta16tsA cells, which express Cx32 and Cx26 but not Cx43; and (3) connexin-deficient N2A cells. NRK and Mbeta16tsA cells were each divided into two groups, one of which was stably transfected to express a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), which gives rise to siRNA that targets pol beta. These two pol beta knockdown cell lines (NRK-kcdc and Mbeta16tsA-kcdc) were co-cultured with labelled wild type, NRK-wt or Mbeta16tsA-wt cells or N2A cells. The levels of pol beta mRNA and protein were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Co-culture of Mbeta16tsA-kcdc cells with Mbeta16tsA-wt, N2A or NRK-wt cells had no effect on pol beta levels in these cells. Similarly, co-culture of NRK-kcdc with N2A cells had no effect on pol beta levels in the N2A cells. In contrast, co-culture of NRK-kcdc with NRK-wt cells resulted in a significant reduction in pol beta in the wt cells. The inability of Mbeta16tsA-kcdc cells to transfer siRNA is consistent with the fact that oligonucleotides of the 12 nucleotide length were not permeable to Cx32/Cx26 channels. This suggested that Cx43 but not Cx32/Cx26 channels allowed the cell-to-cell movement of the siRNA. These results support the novel hypothesis that non-hybridized and possible hybridized forms of siRNA can move between mammalian cells through connexin-specific gap junctions.
Authors:
V Valiunas; Y Y Polosina; H Miller; I A Potapova; L Valiuniene; S Doronin; R T Mathias; R B Robinson; M R Rosen; I S Cohen; P R Brink
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.     Date:  2005-07-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of physiology     Volume:  568     ISSN:  0022-3751     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Physiol. (Lond.)     Publication Date:  2005 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-10-17     Completed Date:  2005-12-27     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0266262     Medline TA:  J Physiol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  459-68     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Cell Communication
Coculture Techniques
Connexin 43 / chemistry,  genetics,  metabolism*
DNA Polymerase beta / genetics,  metabolism*
Gap Junctions / chemistry,  metabolism*
Genetic Vectors
Hela Cells
Humans
Mice
Oligonucleotides / chemistry,  metabolism
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics,  metabolism*
Rats
Transfection
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
CA17395/CA/NCI NIH HHS; DK060037/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS; GM55263/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; HL20558/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; HL28958/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; HL67101/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Connexin 43; 0/Oligonucleotides; 0/RNA, Small Interfering; EC 2.7.7.-/DNA Polymerase beta
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  High intensity exercise decreases global brain glucose uptake in humans.
Next Document:  Light responses and light adaptation in rat retinal rods at different temperatures.