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Gap junction
A gap junction or nexus is a junction between certain animal cell-types that allows different molecules and ions, mostly small intracellular signaling molecules (intracellular mediators), to pass freely between cells. The junction connects the cytoplasm of cells. One gap junction is composed of two connexons (or hemichannels) which connect across the intercellular space. They are analogous to the plasmodesmata that join plant cells[1]. Additional recommended knowledge
StructureIn vertebrates, gap junction hemichannels are primarily homo- or hetero-hexamers of connexin proteins. Invertebrate gap junctions comprise proteins from the hypothetical innexin family. However, the recently characterized pannexin family, functionally similar but genetically distinct from connexins and expressed in both vertebrates and invertebrates, probably encompasses the innexins. At gap junctions, the intercellular space narrows from 25nm to 3nm and unit connexons in the membrane of each cell are lined up with one another. Gap junctions formed from two identical hemichannels are called homotypic, while those with differing hemichannels are heterotypic. In turn, hemichannels of uniform connexin composition are called homomeric, while those with differing connexins are heteromeric. Channel composition is thought to influence the function of gap junction channels but it is not yet known how. Generally, the genes coding for gap junctions are classified in one of three groups, based on sequence similarity: A, B and C (for example, GJA1, GJC1). However, genes do not code directly for the expression of gap junctions; genes can only produce the proteins which make up gap junctions (connexins). An alternative naming system based on this protein's molecular weight is also popular (for example: connexin43, connexin30.3). Levels of organization
Properties
Areas of electrical couplingHeartGap junctions are particularly important in the cardiac muscle: the signal to contract is passed efficiently through the gap junctions, allowing the heart muscle cells to contract in tandem. However, gap junctions are now known to be expressed in virtually all tissues of the body, with the exception of mobile cell types such as sperm or erythrocytes. Several human genetic disorders are now associated with mutations in gap junction genes. Many of those affect the skin, because this tissue is heavily dependent upon gap junction communication for the regulation of differentiation and proliferation. NeuronsFew locations have been discovered where there is significant coupling between neurons in the brain. Structures in the brain that have been shown to contain electrically coupled neurons include the vestibular nucleus, the nucleus of trigeminal nerve, the inferior olivary nucleus, and the Ventral Tegmental Area. There has been some observation of weak neuron to glial cell coupling in the locus coeruleus, and in the cerebellum between Purkinje neurons and Bergmann glial cells. It now seems that astrocytes are strongly coupled by gap junctions. Experimental data show strong gap junction expression in astrocytes. Moreover, mutations in the gap junction genes Cx43 and Cx56.6 cause white matter degeneration similar to that observed in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease and multiple sclerosis. Connexin proteins expressed in neurons include:
RetinaNeurons within the retina show extensive coupling, both within populations of one cell type, and between different cell types. See also
References
Categories: Cell communication | Cell signaling | Cell anatomy |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gap_junction". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |