Transcriptional Regulation of the Connexin Gene

Abstract

As described above, alternate splicing and differential promoter usage can give rise to various transcripts of a particular connexin gene. Some of these transcripts are ubiquitously expressed, while some are tissue specific. The transcription of connexin genes is controlled by of various transcription factors and other biological substances. The transcription factors play an important role in regulating the expression of connexin gene. The types of transcription factor(s) determine whether a particular connexin is expressed ubiquitously or in cell type-specific manner. In the following sections, the role of various transcription factors and other signalling molecules that regulate the ubiquitous or tissue-specific expression of connexin genes will be discussed.