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Gap Junctions

Gap Junctions

Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...

Gap Junctions

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another cell. These cell junctions are classified into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...

Tight Junctions

Tight Junctions

Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

A Functional Assay for Gap Junctional Examination; Electroporation of Adherent Cells on Indium-Tin Oxide

A Functional Assay for Gap Junctional Examination; Electroporation of Adherent Cells on Indium-Tin Oxide

Published on: October 18, 2014

Peptides targeting gap junctional structures.

Jean-Claude Hervé¹, Stefan Dhein

¹Institut de Physiologie et Biologie Cellulaires, Université de Poitiers, CNRS, Poitiers, France. Jean.Claude.Herve@univ-poitiers.fr

Current Pharmaceutical Design

|August 7, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Peptides offer specific targeting for intercellular communication channels, like gap junctions. This review explores peptides that modulate channel function and structure for research.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Multicellular organisms rely on intercellular communication.
Direct cell-to-cell communication occurs via channels linking adjacent cytoplasms.
These channels are formed by hemichannels, composed of junctional proteins like connexins.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the literature on peptides targeting gap junctional structures.
To highlight the role of peptides in understanding intercellular communication.
To discuss the advantages of using peptides as pharmacological tools.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on peptides and gap junctions.
Analysis of peptide mechanisms targeting intercellular channels.
Examination of peptide utility in studying channel structure and function.

Main Results:

Peptides demonstrate high specificity and affinity for intercellular communication targets.
Some peptides modulate gap junction protein expression or channel function via signaling cascades.
Mimetic peptides can attenuate channel activity and aid in structural domain investigation.

Conclusions:

Peptides are valuable tools for studying gap junctional structures and intercellular communication.
Peptide-based approaches offer precise methods for investigating channel permeability and function.
Further research into peptide interactions can advance our understanding of cell signaling.