Cell–cell communication plays a critical role in cell proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, functiogenesis, and tissue homoeostasis in multicellular organisms, while abnormal communication among cells may disrupt biological processes [1]. Intercellular communication is largely mediated by gap junctions (GJs), consisting of arrays of intercellular channels that enable cells to communicate by allowing ions and small molecules to directly transfer between neighboring cells [2]. Three families of integral membrane proteins forming GJ have...
