title: Alkaline pH sensor molecules.
abstract: Animals can survive only within a narrow pH range. This requires continual monitoring of environmental and body-fluid pH. Although a variety of acidic pH sensor molecules have been reported, alkaline pH sensor function is not well understood. This Review describes neuronal alkaline pH sensors, grouped according to whether they monitor extracellular or intracellular alkaline pH. Extracellular sensors include the receptor-type guanylyl cyclase, the insulin receptor-related receptor, ligand-gated Cl- channels, connexin hemichannels, two-pore-domain K+ channels, and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Intracellular sensors include TRP channels and gap junction channels. Identification of molecular mechanisms underlying alkaline pH sensing is crucial for understanding how animals respond to environmental alkaline pH and how body-fluid pH is maintained within a narrow range.
authors.affiliation: Information Processing Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.affiliation: Information Processing Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: TRP; alkalinity; cell surface receptor; channel; pH sensation