Connexin 32 evolution to a CO2 sensor (360G-Wellcome-211810_Z_18_Z)

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Connexin26 (Cx26) is the CO2 chemosensor from reptiles to humans. The CO2 sensitivity of Cx26 arose early in the evolution of air breathing and is present in the ancient lungfish ancestor of all tetrapods. However, Cx26 of modern ray-finned fish has lost the CO2-binding motif. In mammals, Cx32 has a CO2 binding motif almost identical to that of Cx26 and is also sensitive to CO2. Strikingly the CO2 binding motif is retained in Cx32 of ray-finned fish. I would like to test the hypothesis that Cx26 and Cx32 have evolved from a common ancestor. An important step in testing this hypothesis is to see whether Cx32 of different ray-finned fish species is sensitive to CO2 and compare the protein sequence similarity. I will transfect fish Cx32 cDNA into HeLa cells and use a simple dye loading assay to test their CO2-sensitivity. I will also quantify the CO2 sensitivity of human Cx32 to give a direct comparison between fish and human Cx32. I will conduct a bioinformatic analysis of Cx32, paying particular attention to the CO2-binding motif, from several fish, amphibian, reptilian and mammalian species. My work will shed new light on the origins of CO2 binding in the connexin family.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 0
Applicant Surname Dospinescu
Approval Committee Internal Decision Panel
Award Date 2018-05-31T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2017/18
Grant Programme: Title Vacation Scholarships
Internal ID 211810/Z/18/Z
Lead Applicant Mr Valentin Dospinescu
Partnership Value 0
Planned Dates: End Date 2018-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2018-07-02T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region West Midlands