1. Figure 1 The components of the intercalated disc
Figure 1 | The components of the intercalated disc. The intercalated disc is a membrane region located in extremes of the cardiomyocyte, which controls electrical and mechanical coupling of the cardiac tissue. Four distinct structures are found in the intercalated disc: adherens junctions and desmosomes, involved in the adhesion of cardiomyocytes; and gap junctions and voltage-gated sodium channels, involved in electrical propagation and excitability. In the original model for the organization of structures within the intercalated disc (shown here), complexes were physically separated as independent structures. Over the past decade, evidence has emerged of a close interaction between these structures that is necessary for anchoring and stability in the intercalated disc. αE, catenin‑α1; αT, catenin‑α3; Cx43, connexin 43 (also known as gap junction‑α1 protein); DES, desmin; DSC2, desmocollin 2; DSG2, desmoglein 2; DSP, desmoplakin; PKP2, plakophilin 2; ZO‑1, tight junction protein ZO‑1.
Moncayo-Arlandi, J. & Brugada, R. (2017) Unmasking the molecular link between arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and Brugada syndrome
Nat. Rev. Cardiol. doi: /nrcardio