Gap junctions (nexus)
Schematic illustration of specific cell contacts: Gap junctions (nexus). Intercellular canals (lat. nexus) are pore-forming protein complexes (connexons) that tightly connect the plasma membranes of two neighbouring cells to each other. These canals cross the plasma membranes, bridge the gap between the cells, and thus connect the cytoplasms of these cells with each other. Gap junctions are unspecific, omnipermeable pores for passive transmembraneous transport. The allow the exchange of charged and uncharged substances, like organic and anorganic ions, nucleotides (e.g. cAMP, ATP), amino acids, water, glucose, etc.
