What are the gaps?
gaps are cylindrical channels between animal cells that allow small molecules and ions to pass from the inside of one cell inside the adjacent cell. When found in plant cells, similar structures are called plasmodesmat. Without these passages, the material could not pass through a plasma membrane that separates the inside of the cell from the outside. Mezer intersections help cells quickly communicate chemical and electrical signals and achieve homeostasis or physiological balance.
The gaps pass only by ions or charged particles, and small molecules up to about 1,000 daltons pass into the next cell. Unlike other cell channels, the gaps do not limit what type of material passes from the cell to the cell. These channels are located in most animal cells, with the exception of skeletal muscle fibers and freely circulating cells such as red blood cells and circulating lymphocytes. In the nearbyThe channels narrow the intracellular space to about 30 angstromes (1,2E-7in) out of approximately 200 angstromes (9.8e-7in) or wider. Connexons are hexagonal protein structures composed of six proteins called Connexins.
Three principle function of the gaps contain damaged cells, metabolic bond and electrical bond. If the cell is damaged, it is important to insulate it from other cells or kill a bad cell to prevent the defect not spread. Mezer intersections communicate with death signals between cells and shutdown in response to increased intracellular calcium and low pH levels. It is proposed that damage to the communication between the gap causes cancer because the cells lose the ability to isolate and kill defective cells. Research is under way to examine the degree of involvement gap in the cause of cancer.
gaps are essential for the proper functioning of the body due to their role in electrical binding. Because they allowCharmed particles or ions move from cell to cell, ions cause the total charge of the cell to change. If the cell of the cell becomes more positive, it is called depolarization and if the cell becomes sufficiently depolarized or positive enough, it causes action potential. The action potential, in turn, determines a rapid wave of signals that will culminate in muscle contraction. Mezer intersections are used in this function in smooth muscles and heart muscle.
Electrical bond also occurs between neighboring neurons in specialized gaps called electrical synapses. These electrical synaps also transmit neurons across intracellular space to create depolarization or more positive charge in the neighboring neuron. Electrical signaling is much faster than chemical signaling and can offer the transmission signal of both directions.
GAP intersections help metabolic binding by allowing chemical second messengers such as calcium ions and cyclic adEnosin monophosphate - also known as Camp or Cyclic amplifier - to pass into the cytoplasm of the neighboring cell. Cyclic AMP is the second chemical Messenger derived from adenosine triposphate, more often known as, etc. The cyclic amplifier easily passes through the intersections of the gap, allowing it to transmit hormones. Hormones are important chemicals of the messenger, many of which cannot pass through the cell membranes themselves and require the help of secondary messengers and channels such as gaps.