INTERCELLULAR CONNECTION-GAP JUNCTION

SUMMARY

1. 3nm tunnels formed by connexons which line up with each other in adjacent cells. Each connexon is made up of 6 protein subunits called connexins.

2. Particular connexin subunits that make up connexons determine their permiability and selectivity.

3. Allows ions, sugars, amino acids, and anything < MW 1000, denies access to larger or negatively charged molecules.

4. Facilitates cell-cell communication.

5. Allow cardiac or smooth muscle to contract simultaneously.

6. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: X-linked, peripheral neuropathy assoc. with defective connexin gene.

Reference(s)

Barrett, K.E., Barman, S.M., Brooks, H.L., X, J. and Ganong, W.F. (2019). Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 26th ed. New York: Mcgraw-Hill Education