Markovian model of the voltage gating of connexin-based gap junction channels

Gap junction (GJ) channels, which are formed of a connexin (Cx) protein provide pathways through which ions and small molecules are exchanged between adjacent cells. GJs co-ordinate the cellular activity in tissues by synchronizing their electrical activity and allowing a direct cell-to-cell chemical signaling. Electrically gap junctions present nonlinear conductance that depends on transjunctional voltage and can be modulated by chemical reagents and ions, such as pH, Ca²⁺, etc. Here, we describe the model of the voltage gating of gap junctions using Markovian formalism. The results obtained using a stationary Markov model are well comparable with those obtained using a stochastic/imitational model of voltage gating.