Body Space or Junction
gap junction
[ gap juhngk-shuhn ]
Subclass of:
Intercellular Junctions
Definitions related to gap junctions:
  • A cell-cell junction composed of pannexins or innexins and connexins, two different families of channel-forming proteins.
    Gene Ontology Dictionary
    Gene Ontology Consortium, 2021
  • Intercellular connections comprised of complexes of connexin family proteins that permit the transfer of cytoplasmic ions and molecules between connected cells. Each cell contains a hemichannel made up of homo- or hetero-hexamers of connexins.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • 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.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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