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KMID : 0613820040140050882
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Journal of Life Science
2004 Volume.14 No. 5 p.882 ~ p.890
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Mechanism for the Gating of Gap Junction Channel
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Oh Seung-Hoon
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Abstract
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Gap junction is a membrane structure facilitating the direct transmission of several ions and small molecules between two cells. It is also called an ’intercellular channel’ to distinguish it from other well-known cellular channels (e.g. sodium and potassium channels). Gap junction channels are not passive conduits, rather the ion channels modulated by several stimuli including pH, calcium ion, voltage, and a chemical modification (mainly known as phosphorylation). Among them, the effects of voltage on the gating of gap junction channels have been well studied. Gap junction channels are more sensitive to the transjunctional potential (Vj) between two cells rather than the membrane potential (Vm) between inside and outside the cell. In this review, I will summarize the general properties of gap junction channel and discuss the gating mechanism for the gap junction channels.
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KEYWORD
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connexin, gap junction, intercellular channel, gating polarity, voltage-dependent gating
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