Journal
Cell and Tissue Research
Cell and Tissue Research is a scholarly forum publishing articles in the fields of molecular, cell, and supracellular biology.
Cell and Tissue Research invites contributions to this special collection, curated by Dr. Trond Aasen (Section Editor for Disease Mechanisms and Molecular/Cell Biology) along with guest editors Dr. James Smyth (Virginia Tech, USA) and Dr. Silvia Penuela (Western University, Canada).
The critical role of microscopy in elucidating ultrastructural features led to the identification and subsequent coining of the term “gap” junction in 1967 (*). Since the inception of this field, Cell and Tissue Research has published a wealth of studies examining the ultrastructure of these junctions in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Connexin proteins are now recognized as the subunits that form gap junctions, facilitating direct intercellular communication essential for tissue development and homeostasis. In contrast, non-chordates, such as flatworms and Drosophila, utilize the innexin protein family for similar intercellular communication. More recently, Pannexins have been identified in vertebrates, sharing homology with Innexins but primarily functioning as transmembrane channels that connect intracellular and extracellular environments.
The biennial International Gap Junction Conference has been a pivotal forum for the past fifty years, showcasing and discussing the latest advancements in this dynamic field. The most recent meeting, held in July 2024 in Arlington USA (https://cpe.vt.edu/igjc2024.html), highlighted cutting-edge research and the ongoing evolution of the field. This includes significant progress in understanding channel structures through technological advancements like Cryo-EM, exploring the non-canonical roles of these proteins in interactions with other cellular structures such as mitochondria, and their implications in an expanding array of physiological functions and diseases.
Since its founding in 1924 as Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie, and its evolution into Cell and Tissue Research in 1974, the journal has established itself as a premier platform for disseminating timely and innovative findings in cell biology and microscopic anatomy across various species.
As our journal commemorates its 100th anniversary, we find it timely to invite contributions for a special collection that showcases the diversity and unique characteristics of these channel proteins. Submission is open until the end of December 2024 and as a Hybrid journal, you have a choice to pay an APC for open access. We welcome original research and review articles, including “looking back – looking forward” pieces, from leading experts and emerging scholars in the following areas:
Neurobiology/Endocrinology/ Neuroendocrinology
Development/Growth/Regeneration
Stem/Progenitor Cells
Extracellular Matrix
Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle
Reproductive Biology
Invertebrates
Immunology/Inflammation
Disease Mechanisms and Molecular/Cell Biology
*J P Revel, M J Karnovsky, J Cell Biol. 1967 Jun;33(3):C7-C12. doi: 10.1083/jcb.33.3.c7
Submit your manuscript to this collection through the participating journal.
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Trond Aasen, PhD
Dr. Aasen gained his PhD studying gap junction biology in skin and cancer at the University of Glasgow in 2002 and continued postdoctoral research in London. In 2007, he further expanded his research horizons by moving to Barcelona, pioneering the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from skin keratinocytes. In 2011, he became a principal investigator at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, holding a senior position since 2016. His primary research revolves around connexin and pannexin channels in health and disease, focusing on cancer and exploring molecular mechanisms and novel signaling pathways regulated by cell-cell communication. -
Silvia Penuela, PhD
Dr. Penuela is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair – Research in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario NS cross-appointed to the Department of Oncology – Division of Experimental Oncology. Silvia did her B.Sc. in Microbiology at the University of Los Andes gained her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her research has continued the seminal work done in pannexins in normal tissues including skin, adipose tissue, cartilage and bone, as well as the role of pannexins in malignant transformation of cancers such as melanoma and glioblastoma. -
James Smyth, PhD
TBD