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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

53.1K
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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Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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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...
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Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

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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...
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Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

8.4K
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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Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

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The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Recording Gap Junction Current from Xenopus Oocytes
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Gap junctions regulate the development of neural circuits in the neocortex.

Jun-Wei Cao1, Lin-Yun Liu2, Yong-Chun Yu2

  • 1School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, Hunan 423000, China.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|June 1, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gap junctions are vital for developing brains, influencing neurogenesis and neural circuit formation. Further research into these cell connections is crucial for understanding brain development and disease.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Gap junctions are ubiquitous in the developing brain.
  • They play critical roles in neurogenesis, cell migration, synaptogenesis, and neural circuit formation.
  • Dysfunctional gap junctions are linked to various brain diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore critical open questions regarding gap junction function in neural circuit development.
  • To deepen the understanding of fundamental mechanisms in neocortical structure and function.
  • To elucidate the role of gap junctions in the etiology of brain diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on gap junctions.
  • Identification of key knowledge gaps in the field.
  • Formulation of critical research questions for future investigation.

Main Results:

  • While the role of gap junctions in neocortical development is partially understood, significant gaps remain.
  • Several critical open questions concerning their precise functions and implications were identified.
  • The study highlights the need for further research to fully comprehend their impact.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing the identified open questions will significantly advance our understanding of neocortical development.
  • This research is essential for unraveling the fundamental mechanisms underlying brain structure and function.
  • Further investigation into gap junctions is vital for understanding the origins of brain diseases.