Journal
NATURE REVIEWS MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages 285-294Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nrm1072
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Gap junctions consist of intercellular channels that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells directly and allow the exchange of small molecules. These channels are unique in that they span two plasma membranes - the more orthodox ion or ligand-gated channels span only one. Each cell contributes half of the intercellular channel, and each half is known as a connexon or hemichannel. Recent studies indicate that connexons are also active in single plasma membranes and that they might be essential in intercellular signalling beyond their incorporation into gap junctions.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available