Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41526355›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Reversible lipid-mediated pH-gating of connexin-46/50 by cryo-EM.

Joshua M Jarodsky, Janette B Myers, Steve L Reichow

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Joshua M JarodskyDepartment of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Janette B MyersDepartment of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Steve L ReichowDepartment of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. reichow@ohsu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5276-7690

Funding

Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-EM: Equipment SupplementR24GM154185 · NIGMS · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI James E Evans, CLAUDIA SUSANA LOPEZ · 2024 to 2026
$21.5M
Dynamic Mechanisms of Membrane Channel Gating by CryoEMR35GM124779 · NIGMS · PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Stephen Loen Reichow · 2017 to 2026
$4.2M
High Performance Computing and Machine Learning Infrastructure for Oregon Life SciencesS10OD034224 · OD · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI ELLROTT, KYLE · 2023 to 2023
$2.0M
NIGMS NIH HHS R24 GM154185NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM124779NIH HHS S10 OD034224U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) R24GM154185U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) R35GM124779U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) S10OD034224
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Gap junctions, formed by connexin proteins, establish direct electrical and metabolic coupling between cells, enabling coordinated tissue responses. These channels universally respond to intracellular pH changes, closing under acidic conditions to limit the spread of cytotoxic signals during cellular stress, such as ischemia. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we uncover insights into the structural mechanism of pH-gating in native lens connexin-46/50 (Cx46/50) gap junctions. Mild acidification drives lipid infiltration into the channel pore, displacing the N-terminal (NT) domain and stabilizing pore closure. Lipid involvement is shown to be both essential and fully reversible. Structural transitions involve an ensemble of gated states formed through non-cooperative NT domain movement as well as minor populations of a distinct destabilized open-state. These findings provide molecular insights into pH-gating dynamics, illustrating how structural changes may regulate gap junction function under cellular stress and linking Cx46/50 dysregulation to age-related cataract formation.

Indexed as

ConnexinsGap JunctionsIon Channel GatingLipidsAnimalsConnexin 50Cryoelectron MicroscopyHumansHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationLens, CrystallineConnexin 50ConnexinsGJA3 protein, humanLipids

Identifiers

PMID41526355
PMCPMC12905369

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.