Cx46G143R decreases cell viability and promotes cell death.

<p><i>A)</i> HeLa cells transfected with wild-type Cx46, Cx46G143R or untransfected control were incubated with WST-1 reagent and the absorbance at 450 nm was measured, which indicates the number of viable cells. The absorbance of the solution only containing culture medium and WST-1 reagent was measured as the background control. The absorbance of Cx46G143R versus that of Cx46, ^***, <i>P</i><0.001. n = 5. <i>B)</i> HeLa cells stably transfected with wild-type Cx46, Cx46G143R or non-transfected cells were treated with (right panel) or without (left panel) 0.5 mM H₂O₂. Twelve hr after treatment, cells at 90% confluency were labeled with annexin V and analyzed by flow cytometry to measure the percentage of annexin V positive cells. Cx46G143R versus Cx46, ^*, <i>P</i><0.05, ^**, <i>P</i><0.01. n = 5. <i>C)</i> Sparse cultured cells with minimal cell contacts were treated with (right panel), or without (left panel), 0.5 mM H₂O₂. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of annexin V (upper panels) and PI (lower panels) positive cells. Cx46G143R versus Cx46, ^*, <i>P</i><0.05, ^**, <i>P</i><0.01. n = 3.