EVIDENCE THAT DISRUPTION OF CONNEXON PARTICLE ARRANGEMENTS IN GAP JUNCTION PLAQUES IS ASSOCIATED WITH INHIBITION OF GAP JUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION BY A GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID-DERIVATIVE

Glycyrrhetinic acid exhibits many pharmacological activities, includin g the ability to block gap junctional communication. However, the mech anism of glycyrrhetinic action is not clear. Others have shown that gl ycyrrhetinic acid apparently binds to a single proteinatious binding s ite in the plasma membrane. We present evidence that while exposure to glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives may not affect protein synthesis or l ocation, it does seem to alter connexon particle packing in gap juncti on plaques. (C) 1996 academic Press, Inc.