Autophagy is not involved in the degradation of Cx43.

<p>(A) LC3-II levels do not increase in HL-1 cells during ethanol exposure. Cells were exposed to 2% ethanol for the indicated time periods, and LC3-II levels were examined by western blot analysis. Hsc70 levels were also examined as a loading control. The graph shows mean±S.E. (n = 3). (B) The inhibition of autophagy by 3MA did not affect Cx43 levels. HL-1 cells were treated with 2% ethanol with or without 5 mM 3MA for 24 hours. Cx43 levels were determined by western blot analysis. The graph shows mean±S.E. (n = 3). (C) Ethanol induces lysosomal localization of a mutant form of Cx43. An expression vector expressing an endocytosis-resistant mutant of Cx43 (Cx43Y286A) fused with GFP was transfected into HL-1 cells together with LAMP1-RFP expression vector, after which the cells were exposed to 2% ethanol for 24 hours and observed under a fluorescence microscope. Arrows indicate gap-junctional cell-cell contact.