Connexin 26 (CX26)

GJB2, is a human gene encoding for Gap junction protein, beta 2, 26kDa, or Connexin 26. Defects in this gene lead to the most common form of congenital deafness in developed countries, called DFNB1, also known as Connexin 26 deafness or GJB2-related deafness.Gap junctions were first characterized by electron microscopy as regionally specialized structures on plasma membranes of contacting adherent cells. These structures were shown to consist of cell-to-cell channels. Proteins, called connexins, purified from fractions of enriched gap junctions from different tissues differ. The connexins are designated by their molecular mass. Another system of nomenclature divides gap junction proteins into 2 categories, alpha and beta, according to sequence similarities at the nucleotide and amino acid levels.