Home > Gap junction
A gap junction is a junction between certain animal/plant cell-types that allows different molecules and ions to pass freely between cells. The junction connects the cytoplasm of cells. They are formed by an assembly of connexons. Gap junctions are particularly important in the cardiac muscle: the signal to contract is passed efficiently through the gap junctions, allowing the heart muscle cells to contract in tandem. However, they are imperative to all cells throughout the body. This is demonstrated by tumor cells that generally lack any gap junctions.
See also: Electrical synapse, ion channel
