Fig. 8: A schematic representation of the N-terminus changes in Cx32 GJC in response to changes in lipid composition.
From: Lipid dependence of connexin-32 gap junction channel conformations
A Structures of Cx32 GJCs determined using protein in detergent micelles feature a dramatically different conformation of the NTH, compared to those determined in lipid bilayer (in nanodiscs). The observed conformations depend critically on the presence of sterols (CHS). The NTH is represented in blue, the sterol molecules in green, and phospholipids in yellow. B The CMT1X disease-linked mutation W3S is insensitive to the sterol effects on the NTH structure. These cryo-EM observations are consistent with the MD simulations, which reveal a mutually stabilizing role of the lipids and the NTH residues.
