GAP JUNCTION CHANNEL GATING AND PERMSELECTIVITY - THEIR ROLES IN COORDINATED TISSUE FUNCTION

1. The gating and permselective properties of gap junction channels ar e important parameters to determine in delineating their role in co-or dinated tissue function. This is of particular relevance in non-excita ble tissues. 2. In the present study gating characteristics of rCx43 a re demonstrated. The mean open times are of the order of 0.45-1.1s. Th ese values are extraordinarily large. 3. The permselectivity of a vari ety of gap junction channels is also illustrated to show the poor sele ctivity properties of gap junctions and, hence, their potential to all ow the permeation of second messenger molecules. 4. Gating and permsel ectivity, along with diffusion modelling, produce a picture for gap ju nction channels that is consistent with physiologically relevant modul ation or regulation of gap junction channel patency.