Cx46G143R increases hemichannel activity.

<p><i>A)</i> Time lapse recording of Etd⁺ uptake in HeLa cells transfected with Cx46 or Cx46G143R. Cells were washed with recording media with (left panel) or without (right panel) 1.8 mM of CaCl₂ 3 times and then incubated with 25 µM Etd⁺ for 15 min. During this time frame, fluorescence images were taken every 30 sec. LaCl₃, a known connexin hemichannel blocker, was added after 10 min (arrow). <i>B)</i> Etd⁺ dye uptake or <i>C)</i> Alexa350 dye uptake was performed in HeLa cells stably transfected with Cx46 or Cx46G143R. Cells were washed with recording media with (left panel) or without (right panel) 1.8 mM of CaCl₂ 3 times and then incubated with 50 µM mM Etd⁺ for 5 min or Alexa350 for 10 min. The intensity of Etd⁺ or Alexa350 fluorescence was measured and quantified. Untransfected HeLa cells were used as control. In absence or presence of extracellular Ca²⁺, Cx46G143R versus wild-type Cx46, ^*, <i>P</i><0.05; ^**, <i>P</i><0.01; ^***, <i>P</i><0.001. n = 5.