purpose. The present study was undertaken to explore the roles gap junctions play in lens
epithelial cell differentiation. methods. Recombinant retroviruses expressing three chick lens …

The lens is an avascular organ in which gap junctions play a pivotal role for cell physiology
and transparency. Here we evaluate a lens culture system as a model for studies of lens gap …

We previously reported that, among the three connexins expressed in chick lens,
overexpression of connexin (Cx) 45.6, not Cx43 or Cx56, stimulates lens cell differentiation; …

purpose. Gap junctions between epithelial cells are essential for normal lens growth. In
mice, knockout of Cx50 or targeted replacement of Cx50 with Cx46 (knockin) caused smaller …

Connexins play essential roles in lens homeostasis and development. Here, we identified a
new role for Cx50 that mediates cell-cell adhesion function. Cx50 enhanced the adhesive …

purpose. Connexin50 (Cx50) is absolutely essential for normal postnatal lens growth.
Deletion of Cx50 or replacement with Cx46 by knockin resulted in smaller lenses containing …

Epithelial cells in primary ovine lens cultures express the gap junction proteins connexin43
(Cx43) and connexin49 (Cx49; aka MP70), a homologue of mouse connexin50. In contrast …

purpose. Lens fiber gap junctions comprise approximately equal molar amounts of
connexin46 (Cx46) and connexin50 (Cx50), both of which contribute significantly to coupling …

In the ocular lens, gap junctional communication is a key component of homeostatic
mechanisms preventing cataract formation. Gap junctions in rodent lens fibers contain two …

Both connexins and signal transduction pathways have been independently shown to play
critical roles in lens homeostasis, but little is known about potential cooperation between …