Asymmetry of gap junction formation along the animal-vegetal axis of Xenopus oocytes

Polarization of oocyte gap junction proteins is described by several studies using an exogenous protein. Results indicate that oocytes achieve higher conductances when paired at their vegetal poles than when paired at their animal poles. This asymmetry involves the action of the ooyctes's connexin protein, which can cause changes in the membrane potential. It has not been tested whether connexin molecules are inserted randomly or preferentially into the plasma membrane.