Gap Junction-mediated Intercellular Signalling in Health and Disease

Molecular biology, gene expression and regulation of gap junctions; electron cryo-crystallography of a recombinant gap junction channel at 7 resolution - progress towards visualizing different conformational states; trafficking and assembly; interactions between growth factors and gap junctional communication in developing systems; biological functions of gap junctions revealed by genetic defects, targeted mutations and dominant negative approaches; connexins in the lens - are they to blame in diabetic cataractogenesis?; neuronal coupling in the central nervous system - lessons from the retina; gap junctions and connexin expression in the inner ear; gap junctions and connexin expression in the adult and developing cerebral cortex; peripheral nervous system (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease); cardiovascular disease; misregulation of Connexin43 (1) gap junction channels and congenital heart defects; use of dominant negative, antisense and targeted gene disruption strategies for the study of gap junction function; connexins in tumour suppression and cancer therapy.