Abstract
Gap junctions are intercellular junction apparatus found in almost all multicellular animals and are involved in direct intercellular communication. Those of invertebrate animals consist of the innexin protein family. We developed antibodies against peptide fragments of Bombyx mori innexin 2, and examined tissues of Periplaneta americana by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. Intense immunoreactivity of innexin 2 was found in the midleg, gizzard and thoracic muscular tissues. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that immunogold particles of innexin 2 were aggregated around cell adhesion structures between muscle fibers. These results suggest that innexin 2 is expressed in the muscle cells of cockroaches and is involved in synchronization of muscle contraction.
