DISTINCT ROLES FOR Cx37 AND Cx40 IN REGULATING VASCULAR RESPONSES FOLLOWING ISCHEMIA

........................................................................................11 ACRONYM TABLE............................................................................12 CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION......................13 1.1 Structure of Connexons and Connexins...........................................14 1.2 Regulation of Channel Activity.......................................................16 1.3 Connexin Post-Translational Modification and Binding Partners.........20 1.4 Gap Junctions and Growth Control.................................................21 1.5 Connexins in the Vasculature..........................................................23 1.6 Vascular Gap Junctions and Disease................................................26 1.7 Mechanisms of Vascular Growth and Remodeling............................28 1.8 Summary.....................................................................................30 CHAPTER TWO: PRESENT STUDY...................................................31 2.1 Specific Aims...............................................................................31 2.2 Specific Aim 1: Determine the Growth Regulatory Effect(s) of Cx37 of Cx40 Expression on Cultured Cells.............................................31 2.3 Specific Aim 2: Determine the Effect of Cx37-Deficiency on the Structure of the Native Vasculature and Induced Vascular Remodeling.................................................................................32 2.4 Specific Aim 3: Determine the Effect of Cx40-Deficiency on the Structure of the Native Vasculature and Induced Vascular Remodeling.................................................................................33 CHAPTER THREE: GROWTH REGULATORY EFFECTS OF VASCULAR CONNEXINS ON CULTURED CELLS............................35 3.