Hong-Bo Zhao

TL;DR: It is presented the case that unlike the connexin gap junction inter cellular channels, so far, pannexin oligomers have repeatedly been shown to be channels that are functional in single membranes, but not as intercellular channels in appositional membranes, hence, they should be referred to as channels and not hemichannels.

TL;DR: These studies elucidate gap junction functions in the cochlea and provide insight for understanding the pathogenesis of this common hereditary deafness induced by connexin mutations and functional studies of mutant channels that cause human deafness.

TL;DR: New experiments further demonstrate that the hypothesized K+-recycling disruption is not a principal deafness mechanism for connexin deficiency induced hearing loss and provide important information for developing new protective and therapeutic strategies for this common deafness.

TL;DR: It is shown that the motility caused by voltage stimulation of one cell in a group evokes gating currents in adjacent OHCs, which may be indicative of lateral inhibition and may provide a basis for enhanced frequency selectivity in the basilar membrane of mammals.

TL;DR: It is reported that miRNAs can pass through gap junction channels in a connexin-dependent manner, and this data reveal a novel mechanism for intercellular genetic communication.