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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Gap junctions have at least two conductance states: the 'full conductance' state and a 'subconductance' state. Rather
than closing completely, these channels spend longer periods of time in the subconductance state when the gate senses a voltage change. Qu and Dahl considered the possibility that channel
selectivity in this state might differ from that in the full conductance state such that the passage of larger molecules would be reduced. In this way, the activated gate would allow
electrical coupling, while obstructing the passage of metabolites and second messengers. To test this idea, the authors expressed connexin 46 (Cx46) or Cx43 in _Xenopus_ oocytes. They
monitored the passage of fluorescent test molecules or cyclic AMP through Cx46 hemichannels expressed in single oocytes, and through full heterotypic (Cx46/Cx43) channels that formed between
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are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER * Qu, Y. &
Dahl, G. Function of the voltage gate of gap junction channels: selective exclusion of molecules. _Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA_ 99, 697–702 (2002) Article CAS Google Scholar Download
references Authors * Rebecca Craven View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
CITE THIS ARTICLE Craven, R. Closing the gap. _Nat Rev Neurosci_ 3, 172 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn780 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 March 2002 * DOI:
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