Degree
Master of Science
Program
Physiology and Pharmacology
Supervisor
Dr. Bai Donglin
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia. Recently, four novel heterozygous Cx40 mutations, K107R, L223M, Q236H, and I257L were identified in 4 of 310 unrelated AF patients. To study possible alterations associated with these mutants, we studied their localization and function using gap junction (GJ)-deficient model cells. Cell pairs expressing Q236H alone or together with wildtype Cx43 showed a significantly lower coupling conductance. Impaired GJ function and dominant negative action on Cx43 of this mutant are consistent with previous findings on the majority of AF-linked Cx40 mutants. The remaining three novel AF-linked mutants did not show any apparent defects in our tested GJ or hemichannel assays, which may reflect the limitations of our experimental system.
Recommended Citation
Noureldin, Mahmoud, "Functional Characteristics of Four Novel Lone Atrial Fibrillation-Linked Connexin40 Mutants" (2017). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4735.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4735
Included in
Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Cell Biology Commons, Cellular and Molecular Physiology Commons, Genetics Commons