The Role of Chemical Inhibition of Gap-Junctional Intercellular Communication in Toxicology
Abstract
During the period under report, we have made significant progress in the studies proposed under various specific aims. More importantly, antibodies to three major gap junction (GJ) proteins were generated and used to characterize the GJ proteins of various tissue culture systems. Progress has also been made in understanding the biochemical and molecular basis of the action of certain tumor promoting chemicals, such as TPA, mezerein and bryostatin, which indicated that protein kinase C (PKC), an import component of cellular second messenger system, was activated. Since gap junction protein is considered to be affected by PKC, the observations we made suggest that PKC activating toxicants can exert their action as tumor promoters through abolishing GJ protein function. Another study suggested that certain oncogenes, ras, neu and src, induce cellular transformation and the resulting transformed cells have very poor GJIC. Studies are underway to identify the mechanisms of gap junction protein regulation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA241465
Entities
People
- James E. Trosko
Organizations
- Michigan State University