CELE_ZK770.3, opu-12, ZK770.3

inx-12 (innexin=invertebrate connexin analogue) encodes a protein of the innexin family; innexins are gap junction proteins similar in function, though dissimilar in sequence to the vertebrate connexins; innexins are the only known gap junction proteins in invertebrates; inx-12 and inx-13 appear to be a tandom duplication; RNA interference of inx-12 results in an arrest at the L1 larval stage with fluid filled dead rods; this phenotype and sequence homology to Drosophila innexins suggest that INX-12 may be required to form gap junctions between the excretory canal and hypodermis, thus playing an essential role in osmoregulation; an INX-12::GFP fusion protein is expressed in the excretory canal.

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