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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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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...
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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.
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Decision Making01:20

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Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
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Overview of Synapses01:25

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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

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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.
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A multilayered gap junction network is essential for social decision-making.

Airi Nakayama1, Hiroo Kuroyanagi1, Hironori J Matsuyama2

  • 1Department of Biological Science, Division of Natural Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|October 8, 2025
PubMed
Summary

High-density early life experiences in C. elegans alter adult thermotaxis behavior. A gap junction network is crucial for this social context-dependent behavioral plasticity and developmental decisions.

Keywords:
behaviorexploitation-exploration trade-offgap junctionneural circuitrysocial experience

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Behavioral Biology

Background:

  • Early-life social environments significantly influence adult behavior.
  • The neural basis of social experience-induced behavioral plasticity is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how high-density rearing affects adult behavior in *Caenorhabditis elegans*.
  • To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying social context-dependent behavioral plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the associative learning paradigm of thermotaxis in *C. elegans*.
  • Analyzed behavioral responses of larvae reared at different densities.
  • Investigated the role of a gap junction network in neural circuits.

Main Results:

  • Larvae reared at high density exhibited exploratory dispersal behavior in thermotaxis, unlike low-density reared animals that preferred food-associated temperatures.
  • High-density exposure altered the neural representation of thermal valence.
  • A gap junction network connecting density-sensing neurons to temperature processing circuits was identified as critical.
  • These gap junction components also regulate developmental diapause in response to high density.

Conclusions:

  • A multilayered gap junction network facilitates the influence of early social experiences on adult behavior.
  • This network is essential for both developmental and behavioral plasticity in social contexts.