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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

55.5K
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...
55.5K
Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

8.7K
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...
8.7K
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

27.6K
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...
27.6K
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

45.5K
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...
45.5K
Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

6.0K
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...
6.0K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

5.4K
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
5.4K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes
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Seeing Is Believing: Gap Junctions in Motion.

Xinbo Li1

  • 1Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

Biology
|July 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) channels, formed by connexin proteins, facilitate direct cell-to-cell transport. Understanding these channels is crucial for cellular function and disease research.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) channels are essential for direct cell-to-cell transport.
  • These channels are constructed from connexin proteins, which assemble into hexamers known as connexons.

Discussion:

  • The structure and function of GJIC channels are critical for coordinating cellular activities.
  • Dysregulation of connexin channels is implicated in various pathological conditions.

Key Insights:

  • Connexons, formed by connexin protein hexamers, are the fundamental units of GJIC channels.
  • Intercellular communication via GJIC is vital for tissue homeostasis and development.

Outlook:

  • Further research into connexin biology may reveal therapeutic targets for diseases involving impaired cell communication.
  • Investigating GJIC channel dynamics can provide deeper insights into complex biological processes.