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P2X receptors C

Unless otherwise stated all data on this page refer to the human proteins. Gene information is provided for human (Hs), mouse (Mm) and rat (Rn).

Overview

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P2X receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on P2X Receptors [6,36]) have a trimeric topology [25,31,35,54] with two putative TM domains per P2X subunit, gating primarily Na+, K+ and Ca2+, exceptionally Cl-. The Nomenclature Subcommittee has recommended that for P2X receptors, structural criteria should be the initial basis for nomenclature where possible. X-ray crystallography indicates that functional P2X receptors are trimeric and three agonist molecules are required to bind to a single trimeric assembly in order to activate it [20-21,25,35,44]. Native receptors may occur as either homotrimers (e.g. P2X1 in smooth muscle) or heterotrimers (e.g. P2X2:P2X3 in the nodose ganglion [73], P2X1:P2X5 in mouse cortical astrocytes [42], and P2X2:P2X5 in mouse dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord and mid pons [7,64]. P2X2, P2X4 and P2X7 receptor activation can lead to influx of large cationic molecules, such as NMDG+, Yo-Pro, ethidium or propidium iodide [61]. The permeability of the P2X7 receptor is modulated by the amount of cholesterol in the plasma membrane [53]. The hemi-channel pannexin-1 was initially implicated in the action of P2X7 [60], but not P2X2, receptors [5], but this interpretation is probably misleading [62]. Convincing evidence now supports the view that the activated P2X7 receptor is immediately permeable to large cationic molecules, but influx proceeds at a much slower pace than that of the small cations Na+, K+, and Ca2+ [11].

Channels and Subunits

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P2X1 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X2 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X3 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X4 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X5 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X6 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X7 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

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Further reading

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References

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NC-IUPHAR subcommittee and family contributors

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How to cite this family page

Database page citation (select format):

Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY citation:

Alexander SPH, Mathie AA, Peters JA, Veale EL, Striessnig J, Kelly E, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Davies JA et al. (2023) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24: Ion channels. Br J Pharmacol. 180 Suppl 2:S145-S222.