1. The gap junction life cycle
James W. Smyth, PhD, Robin M. Shaw, MD, PhD 
Heart Rhythm 
Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages (January 2012)
DOI: /j.hrthm
Copyright © 2012 Heart Rhythm Society Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
Schematic representation of the life cycle of connexin 43 gap junctions. Connexin 43 hemichannels are packaged into vesicles at the trans-Golgi network from where they traffic along microtubules that can use specific plus-end binding proteins and adherens junctions to directly localize the delivery of connexons to the intercalated disc. Once in the plasma membrane, connexons bind to hemichannels of apposing cells and form gap junctions. Connexons are endocytosed and degraded, and gap junctions can be internalized as double-membrane “annular” gap junction structures destined for degradation.
Heart Rhythm 2012 9, DOI: ( /j.hrthm )
Copyright © 2012 Heart Rhythm Society Terms and Conditions