Gap junction modulation
Gap junction modulation describes the functional manipulation of gap junctions, specialized channels that allow direct electrical and chemical communication between cells without exporting material from the cytoplasm.[1] Gap junctions play an important regulatory role in various physiological processes including signal propagation in cardiac muscles and tissue homeostasis of the liver. Modulation is required, since gap junctions must respond to their environment, whether through an increased expression or permeability. Impaired or altered modulation can have significant health implications and are associated with the pathogenesis of the liver, heart and intestines.[2][3][4]
Modulation is achieved by endogenous chemicals, growth factors, hormones and proteins that affect gap junction expression, structure, degradation and permeability. Natural forms of modulation include voltage gating and chemical modulation. Voltage-gating is a relatively fast modulation categorized into Vj gating and slow voltage gating, which are further influenced by calcium ions, pH and calmodulin.[1][5] Chemical modulation entails the addition or removal of a functional group or protein from the connexin subunits of gap junctions; this can alter gap junction expression and structure.[6]
Voltage gating
The molecular structure of gap junctions makes them sensitive and responsive to intercellular currents.[7] This sensitivity allows the channel to alter its size and structure according to electrical signals. The two types of voltage gating, Vj gating and slow voltage gating, are similar in their mechanisms, but react to different electrical magnitudes.[7] The electrical signals that modulate gap junctions release calcium ions that has a positive feedback on voltage gating.[8] This calcium modulation is also influenced by pH and Calmodulin(CaM).[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Cell - Gap junctions". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
- ^ Noorman, Maartje; van der Heyden, Marcel A.G.; van Veen, Toon A.B.; Cox, Moniek G.P.J.; Hauer, Richard N.W.; de Bakker, Jacques M.T.; van Rijen, Harold V.M. (2009-04-01). "Cardiac cell–cell junctions in health and disease: Electrical versus mechanical coupling". Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 47 (1): 23–31. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.03.016. ISSN 0022-2828.
- ^ Hoagland, Daniel T.; Santos, Webster; Poelzing, Steven; Gourdie, Robert G. (2019-07-01). "The role of the gap junction perinexus in cardiac conduction: Potential as a novel anti-arrhythmic drug target". Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology. Physics meets medicine - at the heart of active matter. 144: 41–50. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2018.08.003. ISSN 0079-6107. PMC 6422736. PMID 30241906.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) - ^ Hernández-Guerra, Manuel; Hadjihambi, Anna; Jalan, Rajiv (2018-12-29). "Gap junctions in liver disease: Implications for pathogenesis and therapy". Journal of Hepatology. 70 (4): 759–772. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2018.12.023. ISSN 0168-8278.
- ^ Peracchia, Camillo,. Gap junction structure and chemical regulation : direct calmodulin role in cell-to-cell channel gating. London, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-12-816380-1. OCLC 1086610350.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Segretain, Dominique; Falk, Matthias M. (2004-03-23). "Regulation of connexin biosynthesis, assembly, gap junction formation, and removal". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes. 1662 (1–2): 3–21. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2004.01.007.
- ^ a b Harris, Andrew L. (2002-02-01). "Voltage-sensing and Substate Rectification". Journal of General Physiology. 119 (2): 165–170. doi:10.1085/jgp.119.2.165. ISSN 1540-7748. PMC 2233797. PMID 11815666.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) - ^ a b Peracchia, Camillo (2004-03-23). "Chemical gating of gap junction channels". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes. 1662 (1–2): 61–80. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2003.10.020.