Astrocytes are neural cells of ectodermal, neuroepithelial origin that provide for homeostasis
and defense of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are highly heterogeneous in …

Gap junctions are essential to the function of multicellular animals, which require a high
degree of coordination between cells. In vertebrates, gap junctions comprise connexins and …

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common types of epilepsy, yet
approximately one-third of patients are refractory to current anticonvulsive drugs, which …

Abstract The nucleotide adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) has classically been considered
the cell's primary energy currency. Importantly, a novel role for ATP as an extracellular …

Functional interaction between neurons and glia is an exciting field that has expanded
tremendously during the past decade. Such partnership has multiple impacts on neuronal …

Abstract Connexin-43 (Cx43), a predominant cardiac connexin, forms gap junctions (GJs)
that facilitate electrical cell–cell coupling and unapposed/nonjunctional hemichannels that …

Plasma membrane hemichannels composed of connexin (Cx) proteins are essential
components of gap junction channels but accumulating evidence suggests functions of …

Connexin hemichannels (connexons) are building blocks of gap junctions but also function
as free unapposed channels, which has become an active field of research. Defining …

Vertebrate cells that express connexins likely express connexin hemichannels (Cx HCs) at
their surface. In diverse cell types, surface Cx HCs can open to serve as a diffusional …

Although alkaline pH is known to trigger Ca2+ influx in diverse cells, no pH-sensitive Ca2+
channel has been identified. Here, we report that extracellular alkalinization induces …