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Related Concept Videos

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane01:24

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

Proteins show rotational as well as lateral diffusion across the membrane. The lateral diffusion of proteins was confirmed through the cell fusion experiment where mouse and human cells were fused, resulting in hybrid cells. When the human and mouse cells fused, the specific membrane proteins on human and mouse cells were marked with the red and green-fluorescent markers, respectively. Initially, the red and green fluorescence was located on the respective hemisphere of the cell. As time...
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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 Junctions01:27

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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...
Passive Diffusion: Overview and Kinetics01:17

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products
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Published on: December 25, 2016

Estimation of the effective intercellular diffusion coefficient in cell monolayers coupled by gap junctions.

Niels Erik Olesen1, Johannes P Hofgaard, Niels-Henrik Holstein-Rathlou

  • 1The Danish National Research Foundation, Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Copenhagen, Denmark.

European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences : Official Journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences
|September 6, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new method to quantify gap junction permeability using dye spread analysis based on Fick's law of diffusion. The approach provides a more precise estimation of intercellular diffusion coefficients than previous qualitative measures.

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A Method for Determination and Simulation of Permeability and Diffusion in a 3D Tissue Model in a Membrane Insert System for Multi-well Plates

Published on: February 23, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Gap junction communication is crucial for cellular function.
  • Current dye-based assays for gap junction permeability offer limited quantitative insights.
  • Existing methods analyze dye spread qualitatively, lacking a physics-based approach.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a quantitative method for analyzing dye spread in gap junction assays.
  • To apply Fick's law of diffusion to estimate intercellular coupling.
  • To provide a more precise measure of gap junction permeability.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a dye-based assay involving electroporation of connexin 43 expressing cells.
  • Applied a continuum approximation based on Fick's law of diffusion.
  • Developed new measures to directly correlate dye spread with the diffusion coefficient.

Main Results:

  • Established a theoretical framework to estimate an effective diffusion coefficient using Fick's law.
  • Demonstrated that the method is independent of the specific dye used.
  • Observed rapid diffusion of Lucifer Yellow, allowing only an order-of-magnitude estimate.

Conclusions:

  • The new method offers direct quantification of the intercellular diffusion coefficient.
  • This approach significantly improves upon previous qualitative assessments of gap junction permeability.
  • Provides enhanced precision for evaluating substances that modulate cell permeability.