Exploring the Dynamic Interaction Between Large-Pore Channels: Latest Insights
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
2. Laboratorio de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, Santiago, Chile
Interests: regulation and function of connexin- and pannexin-based channels
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past two decades, large-pore channels, such as the hemichannels formed by connexins, pannexins, innexins, unnexins, and TRP channels, P2X receptors, and CAHLM channels, as well as others, have emerged as pivotal, upstream physiological effectors, as well as amplifiers of neuro-inflammation. Critical progress on the molecular structures of these channels has been accomplished, opening up avenues to progress in the understanding of their involvement in cell responses. Their involvement in different conditions is mediated by the permeants of these channels including ions causing membrane depolarization and intracellular activation of Ca2+ metabolic pathways. In addition, these large pores serve as membrane pathways for the release of small molecules (e.g., ATP and glutamate) and their uptake (e.g., glucose and cADPR). While some of these permeants play relevant roles under physiologic conditions, they could also be danger signals that activate P2X and NMDA receptors, contributing to a Ca2+ overload and leading to cell dysfunction or even cell death, igniting the activation of the inflammasome and generation of oxygen and nitrogen reactive substances. The activation of one type of large-pore channel can lead to the activation of other large-pore channels, generating a feedforward mechanism that potentiates the cell response. The relevance of each large-pore channel has been established in a few cases with the discovery of selective blockers and the use of molecular biology techniques (e.g., the knockout and knockdown of protein subunits of each channel type). Nevertheless, key gaps persist, and further research is required.
Prof. Dr. Juan Carlos Saez
Prof. Dr. Viviana Berthoud
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- connexin hemichannels
- pannexin hemichannels
- TRP channels
- P2X receptors
- CAHLM channels
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