High impact information on Panx1

• Pannexin-1 Couples to Maitotoxin- and Nigericin-induced Interleukin-1beta Release through a Dye Uptake-independent Pathway [1].
• Pannexin-1 is a recently identified membrane protein that can act as a nonselective pore permeable to dyes such as ethidium when ectopically expressed [1].
• HeLa cells expressing Panx1 have cell surface labeling, but not gap junction plaques, and do not transfer small fluorescent dyes or neurobiotin in a scrape-loading assay [2].
• Immunohistochemical studies using different antibodies confirm the neuronal origin of pannexin-expressing cells and ascertain the presence of both pannexins in the majority of pyramidal cells and in GABAergic interneurons [3].

Anatomical context of Panx1

• Most notably, Panx1 is detectable in neurons of many brain nuclei, which are known to be coupled by gap junctions as well as in previously unrecognized areas [4].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Panx1

• We investigated the spatio-temporal mRNA distribution of one member of this gene family, pannexin1 (Panx1), in the brain and retina of mice using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and a combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for cellular resolution [4].
• In this study, we have utilized a combination of radioactive and non-radioactive in situ hybridization experiments to characterize the expression pattern of the two pannexin genes during development and maturation of the rat brain [3].

References