Gap junctions-guards of excitability

Line Waring Stroemlund, Christa Funch Jensen, Klaus Qvortrup, Mario Delmar, Morten Schak Nielsen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cardiomyocytes are connected by mechanical and electrical junctions located at the intercalated discs (IDs). Although these structures have long been known, it is becoming increasingly clear that their components interact. This review describes the involvement of the ID in electrical disturbances of the heart and focuses on the role of the gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43). Current evidence shows that Cx43 plays a crucial role in organizing microtubules at the intercalated disc and thereby regulating the trafficking of the cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5 to the membrane.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume43
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)508-12
Number of pages5
ISSN0300-5127
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2015

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