Figure 1.

Diagrams illustrating the hemichannels and intercellular channels formed from a single connexin or 2 different connexins. Six identical connexin subunits (blue or red) can oligomerize to form a homomeric hemichannel (connexon). Two hemichannels containing the same connexin dock with each other to form a homotypic channel. Two hemichannels composed of 2 different connexins form a heterotypic channel. Two co-expressed connexins may oligomerize with each other to form a heteromeric connexon. Heteromeric connexons can dock with homomeric or heteromeric connexons to form a large variety of different channels; only a few configurations are illustrated.