BSC 1010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Laminin, Keratan Sulfate, Type Iv Collagen
28 Aug 2020
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Gap junctions allow direct electrical and chemical communication between cells. Gap junctions are abundant in heart muscle, smooth muscle & nerve cells. Gap junction channels are gated: regulated by electrical potential, signaling molecules, etc. , causes it to open, mammalian gap junctions are relative non-selective, allows different type of ions to pass. Plasmodesmata permit direct cell-cell communication through the cell wall in plant cells. A desmotubule runs through the center of the channel in most plasmodesmata: narrower cylindrical structure, continuous with elements of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (er) in each of the connected cells. Around the desmotubule, there is an annulus of cytosol through which small molecules can pass from cell to cell. Allow larger things to pass- transcription factor or proteins can pass thru: opening is larger than gap. Organized network of secreted molecules that provides scaffolding to tissues and cells. Provides regulatory physical, biochemical, and mechanical signals. Takes on different forms on different tissues.
