title: Electrophysiological characterization of recombinant and native P2X receptors.
abstract: ATP acts as a fast neurotransmitter by activating a family of ligand-gated ion channels, the P2X receptors. Functional homomeric P2X(3) and heteromeric P2X(2/3) receptors are highly localized on primary sensory afferent neurons that transmit nociceptive sensory information. Activation of these P2X(3)-containing channels may provide a specific mechanism whereby ATP, released via synaptic transmission or by cellular injury, elicits pain. The experimental procedures described in this unit are useful for the electorphysiological characterization of P2X receptors. In addition, these protocols provide methods for the evaluation of ligands that interact with P2X receptors that are either natively expressed on excitable cells or cloned and expressed in heterologous cell systems. These methods are derived from standard electrophysiological principles and procedures that are applicable to a wide variety of ligand-gated ion channels. Specific attention is given here to the reliable electrophysiological measurement of both quickly (P2X(3)) and more slowly (P2X(2) and P2X(2/3)) desensitizing receptors.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Wende
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niforatos
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jarvis
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D058911:Purinergic P2X Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D058911:Purinergic P2X Receptor Agonists; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate