Mathematical model of vertebrate gap junctions derived from electrical measurements on homotypic and heterotypic channels

1 A mathematical model has been developed which describes the conductive and kinetic properties of homotypic and heterotypic gap junction channels of vertebrates. 2 The model consists of two submodels connected in series. Each submodel simulates a hemichannel and consists of two conductances corresponding to a high (H) and low (L) conductance state and a switch, which simulates the voltage‐dependent channel gating. 3 It has been assumed that the conductances of the high state and low state vary exponentially with the voltage across the hemichannel. 4 The parameters of the exponentials can be derived from data of heterotypic or homotypic channels. As a result, the behaviour of heterotypic channels can be predicted from homotypic channel data and vice versa. 5 The two switches of a channel are governed by the voltage drop across the respective hemichannel. The switches of a channel work independently, thus giving rise to four conformational states, i.e. HH, LH, HL and LL. 6 The computations show that the dogma of a constant conductance for homotypic channels results from the limited physiological range of transjunctional voltages (Vj) and the kinetic properties of the channel, so a new fitting procedure is presented. 7 Simulation of the kinetic properties at the multichannel level revealed current time courses which are consistent with a contingent gating. 8 The calculations have also shown that the channel state LL is rare and of short duration, and hence easy to miss experimentally. 9 The design of the model has been kept flexible. It can be easily expanded to include additional features, such as channel substates or a closed state.