p-connexin 43 Antibody (Ser 279/282): sc-12900

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The connexins are a group of gap junction proteins which form a hexamer to compose a connexon. Clusters of connexons form a gap junction through which low molecular weight proteins may diffuse from cell to cell. Several mammalian cells with malignant phenotypes exhibit decreased connexin expression and gap junction communication. There is a decrease in gap junctional communication in Src transformed cells. The decreased communication appears to be associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of Connexin 43. Activated c-Src phosphorylates the C-terminal tail of Connexin 43 on residue Tyr 265, resulting in a stable interaction between both proteins leading to inhibition of gap junctional communication. In addition to tyrosine phosphorylation, Connexin 43 has also been shown to be phosphorylated on serine in the absence of Src kinases and on both serine and tyrosine in cells expressing Src kinases, such as pp60v-Src and/or c-Src. In human vascular endothelial cells, Connexin 43 is postranslationally modified during mitosis. Mitosis-specific phosphorylation of Connexin 43 correlates with the transient loss of gap junction intercellular communication and redistribution of Connexin 43.