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P2X receptors C

Unless otherwise stated all data on this page refer to the human proteins. Gene information is provided for human (Hs), mouse (Mm) and rat (Rn).

Overview

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P2X receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on P2X Receptors [6,36]) have a trimeric topology [25,31,35,54] with two putative TM domains per P2X subunit, gating primarily Na+, K+ and Ca2+, exceptionally Cl-. The Nomenclature Subcommittee has recommended that for P2X receptors, structural criteria should be the initial basis for nomenclature where possible. X-ray crystallography indicates that functional P2X receptors are trimeric and three agonist molecules are required to bind to a single trimeric assembly in order to activate it [20-21,25,35,44]. Native receptors may occur as either homotrimers (e.g. P2X1 in smooth muscle) or heterotrimers (e.g. P2X2:P2X3 in the nodose ganglion [73], P2X1:P2X5 in mouse cortical astrocytes [42], and P2X2:P2X5 in mouse dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord and mid pons [7,64]. P2X2, P2X4 and P2X7 receptor activation can lead to influx of large cationic molecules, such as NMDG+, Yo-Pro, ethidium or propidium iodide [61]. The permeability of the P2X7 receptor is modulated by the amount of cholesterol in the plasma membrane [53]. The hemi-channel pannexin-1 was initially implicated in the action of P2X7 [60], but not P2X2, receptors [5], but this interpretation is probably misleading [62]. Convincing evidence now supports the view that the activated P2X7 receptor is immediately permeable to large cationic molecules, but influx proceeds at a much slower pace than that of the small cations Na+, K+, and Ca2+ [11].

Channels and Subunits

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P2X1 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X2 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X3 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X4 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X5 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X6 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

P2X7 C Show summary » More detailed page go icon to follow link

Comments

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Further reading

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References

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NC-IUPHAR subcommittee and family contributors

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How to cite this family page

Database page citation (select format):

Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY citation:

Alexander SPH, Striessnig J, Gibb AJ, Mathie AA, Veale EL, Kelly E, Peach CJ, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Southan C, Davies JA et al. (2025) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2025/26: Ion channels. Br J Pharmacol. 182: S152-S241.