ANTISERA AGAINST 3 CONNEXIN-43 FRAGMENTS REACT WITH A 43-KD PROTEIN LOCALIZED TO GAP-JUNCTIONS IN MYOCARDIUM AND HUMAN MYOMETRIUM

Gap junctions are thought to play an essential role in the control of parturition. In this study we attempted to synthesise three short pept ides which match the portion of the amino acid sequence of the connexi n43, protein predicted from the nucleotide sequence of cDNA clone and to produce an anti-peptide antibody which would detect gap junction pr otein in human myometrium. Three peptides were synthesised: (1) RKEEKL NKKEEE, (2) EJKKFKYGJEEH and (3) KNRVKGRSDPYH. Antibodies against thes e peptides were raised in rabbits, screened for reactivity and specifi city using dot blot assays and used for immunocytochemical staining of heart and myometrial tissues.