Biomaterial Database

[Gap junctions--major structures promoting intercellular communication]. 2005

M G Shubich, and B G Ermoshenko, and Iu M Perov, and I V Dorofeeva

Gap junctions provide humoral and electric communication between the cells, thus contributing to their morpho-functional cooperation. Gap junction is formed by multiple intercellular channels, each of them being made by two closed hemichannels--connexons, that are oligomeric transmembrane proteins built by 6 subunits, belonging to connexin family. Permeability and electric conductivity of gap junction channels is determined by molecular peculiarities of connexins, their capacity for phosphorilation and by some extra- and intracellular factors. According to the current data, gap junctions in both cell cultures and tissues are dynamic structures with a short half-life period. Main mechanisms responsible for gap junction assembly and destruction have been discovered. These mechanisms were shown to depend upon peculiarities of differential genome activity and to be controlled by extra- and intracellular factors. The data on the gap junctions in the nervous system, heart and epidermis are presented.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D009417	Nerve Tissue	Differentiated tissue of the central nervous system composed of NERVE CELLS, fibers, DENDRITES, and specialized supporting cells.	Nervous Tissue,Nerve Tissues,Nervous Tissues,Tissue, Nerve,Tissue, Nervous,Tissues, Nerve,Tissues, Nervous
D009928	Organ Specificity	Characteristic restricted to a particular organ of the body, such as a cell type, metabolic response or expression of a particular protein or antigen.	Tissue Specificity,Organ Specificities,Specificities, Organ,Specificities, Tissue,Specificity, Organ,Specificity, Tissue,Tissue Specificities
D002450	Cell Communication	Any of several ways in which living cells of an organism communicate with one another, whether by direct contact between cells or by means of chemical signals carried by neurotransmitter substances, hormones, and cyclic AMP.	Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interaction,Cell Communications,Cell Interactions,Cell to Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interactions,Communication, Cell,Communications, Cell,Interaction, Cell,Interaction, Cell-to-Cell,Interactions, Cell,Interactions, Cell-to-Cell
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004817	Epidermis	The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017629	Gap Junctions	Connections between cells which allow passage of small molecules and electric current. Gap junctions were first described anatomically as regions of close apposition between cells with a narrow (1-2 nm) gap between cell membranes. The variety in the properties of gap junctions is reflected in the number of CONNEXINS, the family of proteins which form the junctions.	Gap Junction,Junction, Gap,Junctions, Gap
D017630	Connexins	A group of homologous proteins which form the intermembrane channels of GAP JUNCTIONS. The connexins are the products of an identified gene family which has both highly conserved and highly divergent regions. The variety contributes to the wide range of functional properties of gap junctions.	Connexin,Connexin Complex Proteins,Gap Junction Proteins,Gap Junction Channel Proteins,Gap Junction Protein,Junction Protein, Gap,Junction Proteins, Gap

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