Sosinsky G E
Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0322, USA.
J Bioenerg Biomembr. 1996 Aug;28(4):297-309. doi: 10.1007/BF02110106.
Gap junctions regulate a variety of cell functions by creating a conduit between two apposing tissue cells. Gap junctions are unique among membrane channels. Not only do the constituent membrane channels span two cell membranes, but the intercellular channels pack into discrete cell-cell contact areas forming in vivo closely packed arrays. Gap junction membrane channels can be isolated either as two-dimensional crystals, individual intercellular channels, or individual hemichannels. The family of gap junction proteins, the connexins, create a family of gap junctions channels and structures. Each channel has distinct physiological properties but a similar overall structure. This review focuses on three aspects of gap junction structure: (1) the molecular structure of the gap junction membrane channel and hemichannel, (2) the packing of the intercellular channels into arrays, and (3) the ways that different connexins can combine into gap junction channel structures with distinct physiological properties. The physiological implications of the different structural forms are discussed.
间隙连接通过在两个相邻组织细胞之间形成管道来调节多种细胞功能。间隙连接在膜通道中独具特色。其组成的膜通道不仅跨越两个细胞膜，而且细胞间通道聚集成离散的细胞 - 细胞接触区域，在体内形成紧密排列的阵列。间隙连接膜通道可以分离为二维晶体、单个细胞间通道或单个半通道。间隙连接蛋白家族，即连接蛋白，构成了间隙连接通道和结构的家族。每个通道具有独特的生理特性，但整体结构相似。本综述聚焦于间隙连接结构的三个方面：（1）间隙连接膜通道和半通道的分子结构，（2）细胞间通道排列成阵列的方式，以及（3）不同连接蛋白组合成具有不同生理特性的间隙连接通道结构的方式。文中还讨论了不同结构形式的生理意义。
