Biophysics of P2X receptors

The P2X receptor is the baby brother of the ligand-gated ion channel super-family. An understanding of its role in human physiology is still developing, and no one truly knows how it works to transport ions across the membrane. In this study, we review some aspects of P2X channel biophysics, concent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pflügers Archiv 2006-08, Vol.452 (5), p.501-512
Main Authors: Egan, Terrance M, Samways, Damien S K, Li, Zhiyuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenosine Triphosphate - chemistry
Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism
Amino Acid Sequence
Binding Sites
Biophysics - methods
Biophysics - trends
Cell Membrane - physiology
Ion Channel Gating - physiology
Models, Biological
Models, Chemical
Models, Molecular
Molecular Sequence Data
Protein Binding
Receptors, Purinergic P2 - chemistry
Receptors, Purinergic P2 - metabolism
Receptors, Purinergic P2X2
Structure-Activity Relationship
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Summary:The P2X receptor is the baby brother of the ligand-gated ion channel super-family. An understanding of its role in human physiology is still developing, and no one truly knows how it works to transport ions across the membrane. In this study, we review some aspects of P2X channel biophysics, concentrating on ion permeation and gating. P2X channels transport both small and large cations and anions across cell membranes in a manner that depends on both the subunit composition of the receptor and the experimental conditions. We describe the pore properties of wild-type receptors and use the altered phenotypes of mutant receptors to point the way towards a structural model of the pore.
ISSN:0031-6768
1432-2013
DOI:10.1007/s00424-006-0078-1