title: P2X receptors as cell-surface ATP sensors in health and disease.
abstract: P2X receptors are membrane ion channels activated by the binding of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). For years their functional significance was consigned to distant regions of the autonomic nervous system, but recent work indicates several further key roles, such as afferent signalling, chronic pain, and in autocrine loops of endothelial and epithelial cells. P2X receptors have a molecular architecture distinct from other ion channel protein families, and have several unique functional properties.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK. bkhakh@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Baljit S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Khakh
authors.forename: R Alan
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: North
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004194:Disease; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X
chemical_list: D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate