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Effect of Gap Junctional Communication on Glioma Cell Function

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Book cover Gap Junctions in the Nervous System

Part of the book series: Neuroscience Intelligence Unit ((NIU.LANDES))

Abstract

The gap junction is the site of the intercellular membrane channels which provide for direct cytoplasmic continuity between adjacent cells.1 The structural unit of the gap junction is the connexon, a proteinaceous cylinder with a hydrophilic channel; connexons spanning the plasma membranes of closely-apposed cells align end-to-end, forming intercellular channels. Gap junction channels provide for the exchange of small molecules (less than 1000 Daltons) between cells to allow metabolic cooperation;2 they also transmit developmental signals involved in cell patterning.3 Among the metabolites which pass through gap junction channels are second messengers such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and Ca2+, agents involved in cellular regulation.4–9 Due to the recent isolation of gap junction proteins, and the cloning of their mRNAs, it is now obvious that these proteins, the connexins, are encoded by a multigene family.10 Each connexin exhibits a characteristic tissue distribution in the adult animal, implying functional differentiation among the different types of channel.

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Authors
  1. Christian C. G. Naus
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  2. John F. Becherger
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  3. Shari L. Bond
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© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Naus, C.C.G., Becherger, J.F., Bond, S.L. (1996). Effect of Gap Junctional Communication on Glioma Cell Function. In: Gap Junctions in the Nervous System. Neuroscience Intelligence Unit. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-21935-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-21935-5_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-21937-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-21935-5

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