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Related Concept Videos

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Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.
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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
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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...
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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...
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Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
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Gap junction modulation and its implications for heart function.

Stefan Kurtenbach1, Sarah Kurtenbach1, Georg Zoidl2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University Toronto, ON, Canada.

Frontiers in Physiology
|March 1, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Connexins mediate gap junction communication vital for heart function. Understanding connexin modulators and signaling pathways is key to addressing heart disease pathology and improving cardiac health.

Keywords:
connexingap junction communicationheartinteractomesignaling pathway

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Gap junction communication (GJC), primarily mediated by connexins, is essential for coordinated cardiac function.
  • Impairment of GJC is implicated in various cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the need to understand its regulatory mechanisms.
  • Identifying factors that modulate connexin function is crucial for elucidating disease pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an updated overview of the known modulators of connexins, focusing on their role in GJC.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the impairment of GJC in cardiovascular contexts.
  • To establish a framework for data mining and analysis of connexin-related research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on connexin modulators.
  • Analysis of interaction partners, kinases, and signaling cascades affecting connexin function.
  • Conceptualization of a gap junction network (GJN) as a data mining blueprint.

Main Results:

  • Connexin function is regulated by a complex network of interaction partners, kinases, and signaling pathways.
  • These modulators can either enhance or impair GJC, directly impacting cellular communication.
  • The identified modulators and pathways offer insights into the molecular basis of GJC dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of connexin modulators is critical for deciphering the molecular mechanisms of heart disease.
  • The proposed GJN framework can facilitate the exploration of large datasets to identify novel therapeutic targets.
  • Further research into these modulators holds promise for developing strategies to restore or improve cardiac GJC.