title: P2 purinoceptors: historical perspective and classification.
abstract: This article presents an overview that gives some historical perspective to the detailed papers at the cutting edge of P2 purinoceptor research that follow. I consider the proposal, first put forward by Abbracchio & Burnstock (Pharmacol Ther 64:445-475, 1994), that P2 purinoceptors should be regarded as members of two main families: a P2X purinoceptor family consisting of ligand-gated ion channels, and a P2Y purinoceptor family consisting of G protein-coupled receptors. The latest subclasses of these two families (P2X1-4 and P2Y1-5), identified largely on the basis of molecular cloning and expression, are tabled. Finally, I suggest some future directions for P2 purinoceptor research, including studies of the long-term (trophic) actions of purines, the evolution and development of purinoceptors and therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2