Molecular and morphological approach to study the innexin gap junctions in Rhynchosciara americana

Abstract

Gap junctions mediate communication between adjacent cells and are fundamental to the development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms. In invertebrates, gap junctions are formed by transmembrane proteins called innexins. Gap junctions allow the passage of small molecules through an intercellular channel, between a cell and another adjacent cell. The dipteran Rhynchosciara americana has contributed to studying the biology of invertebrates and the study of the interaction and regulation of genes during biological development. Therefore, this paper aimed to study the R. americana innexin-2 by molecular characterization, analysis of the expression profile and cellular localization. The molecular characterization results confirm that the message is from a gap junction protein and analysis of the expression and cellular localization profile shows that innexin-2 can participate in many physiological processes during the development of R. americana.

Keywords

• gap junction
• innexin
• Rhynchosciara americana
• biological development