Explore: Gap Junctions

Gap junctions were first described as close appositions alongside tight junctions, however, electron microscopy studies in 1967 led to gap junctions being

of cell junction: Adherens junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes (anchoring junctions) Gap junctions (communicating junction) Tight junctions (occluding

(TC# 1.A.24), or gap junction proteins, are structurally related transmembrane proteins that assemble to form vertebrate gap junctions. An entirely different

the formation of gap junctions, and are an essential component of the electric synapses in neural pathways. In a single gap junction, connexons will assemble

together and provide structural stability like anchoring junctions or tight junctions. Gap junction channels are selectively permeable to specific ions depending

Gap junction modulation describes the functional manipulation of gap junctions, specialized channels that allow direct electrical and chemical communication

excitatory or inhibitory in function. Neuroeffector junctions are known as neuromuscular junctions when the target cell is a muscle fiber. Non-synaptic

when an action potential arrives from a neighbouring cell, through gap junctions. When this happens, the voltage within the cell increases slightly.

synapses, neurons are coupled bidirectionally with each other through gap junctions and have a connected cytoplasmic milieu. These types of synapses are

(such as adherens junctions, desmosomes, focal adhesions, and hemidesmosomes), and communicating junctions (such as gap junctions). The structures they