Understanding the Signal Transduction Mechanism of Gap Junctions Using Computational Approach in Cardiac Cells

Gap junctions are important intercellular communication mechanisms in heart tissue, and their function is critical to maintaining normal cardiac electrical signals. Gap junctions allow direct electrical connectivity between cardiac myocytes with every beating, allowing for the fast and synchronized spread of cardiac excitement. Proper gap junction communication results in the relatively close start of all cardiomyocyte action potentials as well as an ordered contraction. Many types of cardiac illness cause changes in gap junction coupling. It is understood that the connexin (Cx) component of gap junctions has both direct and indirect functions in the transmission of electrical impulses from the cardiac pacemaker to functioning myocytes through the cardiac conduction system (CCS). In this work, the single cardiac cell of human Purkinjie Fibre and Ventricular Cells are modelled. The modelled cells are coupled via gap junction channels. The computational research intends to investigate the electrotonic function of gap junction conduits in the transmission of electrical impulses between heart cells. It is also studied the effect of the gap junction role between pairs of cells and extrapolate these findings at the tissue level.