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Study of Gap Junctions in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

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Book cover Human Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 584))

Abstract

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) has been described in different cell types including stem cells and has been involved in different biological events. GJIC is required for mouse embryonic stem cell maintenance and proliferation, and various studies suggest that functional GJIC is a common characteristic of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) maintained in different culture conditions. This chapter introduces methods to study gap junctions in hESC, from expression of gap junction proteins to functional study of GJIC in hESC proliferation, apoptosis, colony growth, and pluripotency.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The University of Melbourne and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC 454723). R.C. Wong is currently supported by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine Grant RC1-00110-1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Raymond C.B. Wong

  2. Centre for Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Alice Pébay

Authors
  1. Raymond C.B. Wong
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  2. Alice Pébay
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hosp. Research Institute (OHRI), Smyth Road 501, Ottawa, K1H 8L6, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2006

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Wong, R.C., Pébay, A. (2009). Study of Gap Junctions in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Human Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 584. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-369-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-369-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-368-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-369-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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