一份報告說，細胞膜電位的微小差異可能改變它與其他細胞通信的方式,。這項研究可能有助于理解導(dǎo)致中風(fēng)和心律不齊的心臟和中樞神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)疾病的機制,。細胞使用稱為間隙連接的細胞間通道，在許多種類的細胞（包括心血管細胞和神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)細胞）之間把代謝物和信號傳導(dǎo)分子從一個細胞的內(nèi)部運輸?shù)搅硪粋€細胞的內(nèi)部,。通過細胞間隙的信號傳導(dǎo)協(xié)調(diào)正常組織的細胞活動,，而缺氧和缺血等病理癥狀可能改變這種信號傳導(dǎo)行為。
Nicolas Palacios-Prado和Feliksas Bukauskas發(fā)現(xiàn),，由不同的連接蛋白組成的通道——包括那些構(gòu)成了血管,、心臟和神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)的細胞間隙的通道——的行為就像控制電和化學(xué)信號的對電壓敏感的閥門,。這些閥門允許定向的、細胞對細胞的電信號傳導(dǎo),，還能控制代謝細胞通信,。這組作者發(fā)現(xiàn)，這種通信可以通過跨膜電位的微小變化或者突發(fā)的高頻動作電位加以調(diào)控,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
PNAS August 24, 2009, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0901923106
Heterotypic gap junction channels as voltage-sensitive valves for intercellular signaling
Nicolas Palacios-Prado and Feliksas F. Bukauskas,1
Gap junction (GJ) channels assembled from connexin (Cx) proteins provide a structural basis for direct electrical and metabolic cell–cell communication. By combining fluorescence imaging and dual whole-cell voltage clamp methods, we demonstrate that in response to transjunctional voltage (Vj) Cx43/Cx45 heterotypic GJs exhibit both Vj-gating and dye transfer asymmetries. The later is affected by ionophoresis of charged fluorescent dyes and voltage-dependent gating. We demonstrate that small differences in resting (holding) potentials of communicating cells can fully block (at relative negativity on Cx45 side) or enhance (at relative positivity on Cx45 side) dye transfer. Similarly, series of high frequency Vj pulses resembling bursts of action potentials (APs) can fully block or increase the transjunctional flux (Jj) of dye depending on whether pulses are generated in the cell expressing Cx43 or Cx45, respectively. Asymmetry of Jj-Vj dependence is enhanced or reduced when ionophoresis and Vj-gating act synergistically or antagonistically, whereas single channel permeability (Pγ) remains unaffected. This modulation of intercellular signaling by Vj can play a crucial role in many aspects of intercellular communication in the adult, in embryonic development, and in tissue regeneration.
