Biomaterial Database

Neuronal ATP receptors and their mechanism of action. 1993

P Illes, and W Nörenberg

Department of Pharmacology, University of Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.

ATP stores and supplies energy in neurons, but it also acts as a transmitter molecule. ATP activates a class of membrane receptors termed P2 purinoceptors. Based on the potencies of structural analogues of ATP, P2 purinoceptors in non-neuronal tissues were classified by classic pharmacological methods into two subtypes, P2x and P2y. Peter Illes and Wolfgang Nörenberg report that electrophysiological investigations indicate the presence of P2y-like purinoceptors on neurons. They describe two alternative ionic transduction mechanisms that may be activated by this receptor family.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D011983	Receptors, Purinergic	Cell surface proteins that bind PURINES with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behavior of cells. The best characterized classes of purinergic receptors in mammals are the P1 receptors, which prefer ADENOSINE, and the P2 receptors, which prefer ATP or ADP.	Methyladenine Receptors,Purine Receptors,Purinergic Receptor,Purinergic Receptors,Purinoceptors,Purine Receptor,Purinoceptor,Receptors, Methyladenine,Receptors, Purine,Receptor, Purine,Receptor, Purinergic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia