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Related Concept Videos

Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

11.3K
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
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Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

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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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Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

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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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Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

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A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

136.0K
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
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Electrical and chemical synapses share similar organizational principle.

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Uncovering the electrical synapse proteome in retinal neurons via in vivo proximity labeling.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes
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Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes

Published on: January 21, 2022

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The electrical synapse: Molecular complexities at the gap and beyond.

Adam C Miller1, Alberto E Pereda2

  • 1Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

Developmental Neurobiology
|February 8, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electrical synapses, composed of multiple molecules, are more complex than simple channels. Their protein components can be asymmetrically distributed, allowing for diverse functions in neuronal communication.

Keywords:
connexinelectrical synapsegap junctioninnexinsynapse formation and plasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Electrical synapses, mediated by gap junctions, facilitate direct neuronal communication.
  • Traditionally viewed as simple intercellular channels, their complexity is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the molecular complexity of electrical synapses.
  • To investigate the functional implications of asymmetric protein distribution at electrical synapses.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of current research on electrical synapse structure and function.
  • Analysis of molecular components and their organization within electrical synapses.

Main Results:

  • Electrical synapses are intricate molecular assemblies, not just simple channels.
  • Components like channels, adhesion molecules, and regulatory proteins are essential for function and plasticity.
  • Evidence suggests differential distribution of proteins across the junction, indicating asymmetry.

Conclusions:

  • The molecular sophistication of electrical synapses allows for nuanced roles in neural circuits.
  • Asymmetric protein distribution offers a mechanism for functional diversity and plasticity in electrical synaptic transmission.