In vitro, rapid assembly of gap junctions is induced by cytoskeleton disruptors.

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Abstract
Rapid assembly of gap junctions is reported in [rat] prostate epithelial cells in vitro. Assembly of gap junctions can be induced by incubation of 0.degree. C followed by incubation at 37.degree. C. Colchicine (10-5 M, 10-3 M) and cytochalasin B (25 .mu.g/ml, 100 .mu.g/ml) at room temperature or at 37.degree. C also induce assembly of gap junctions. Assembly of the junctions proceeds even in the presence of a metabolic inhibitor (dinitrophenol) or of an inhibitor of protein synthesis (cycloheximide). Assembly of gap junctions can proceed from a pool of pre-existing precursors. The experimental conditions that result in gap-junction assembly involve perturbation of the cytoskeleton. The assembly of gap junctions may require convergent migration of precursor molecules whose positional control in the membrane is released by perturbation of the cytoskeleton. Aggregates of particles and rugosities, whose distribution size and shape is similar to that of gap junctions, may represent intermediate assembly stages. The final stages in the assembly may take place only after convergence of the precursor molecules to the junctional site and involve profound conformational changes required for establishment of fully assembled connexons.