Chapter 4: Heteromultimeric Gap Junction Channels and Cardiac Disease

摘要: Publisher Summary In the myocardium and other excitable tissues, coordination of physiological responses is accomplished through rapid transmission action potentials from cell to cell. heart, coordinated contraction necessary make heart work efficiently as a pump. Coordination cannot occur without flow local circuit currents groups channels that form plaques in specialized membrane regions known “gap junctions.” Together with voltage-activated channels, intercellular coupling gap junctions integrates individual cellular activity within tissue pattern directed by type, location, number junction channels. If multiple connexins are expressed formation heteromultimeric distinct conductive gating properties constitutes new type regulatory mechanism capable modulating dispersion electrical myocardium. Although extracellular loops have been considered important heterotypic proteins also important.