Gap junctions are essential to the function of multicellular animals, which require a high
degree of coordination between cells. In vertebrates, gap junctions comprise connexins and …

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been well established as an important extracellular
ligand of autocrine signaling, intercellular communication, and neurotransmission with …

Intercellular calcium (Ca2+) waves (ICWs) represent the propagation of increases in
intracellular Ca2+ through a syncytium of cells and appear to be a fundamental mechanism …

Astrocytes are electrically nonexcitable cells that communicate by means of Ca 2+ signaling.
Long-distance intercellular Ca 2+ waves are initiated by release of ATP and activation of …

Neuronal excitotoxicity during stroke is caused by activation of unidentified large-
conductance channels, leading to swelling and calcium dysregulation. We show that …

The exquisite sensitivity of the cochlea, which mediates the transduction of sound waves into
nerve impulses, depends on the endocochlear potential and requires a highly specialized …

Connexin channels are known to be permeable to a variety of cytoplasmic molecules. The
first observation of second messenger junctional permeability, made∼ 30 years ago …

Cells release adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which activates plasma membrane–localized
P2X and P2Y receptors and thereby modulates cellular function in an autocrine or paracrine …

Extracellular ATP controls various signaling systems including propagation of intercellular
Ca2+ signals (ICS). Connexin hemichannels, P2x7 receptors (P2x7Rs), pannexin channels …

Cxs (connexins), the protein subunits forming gap junction intercellular communication
channels, are transported to the plasma membrane after oligomerizing into hexameric …