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Proteomics to Identify Proteins Interacting with P2X2 Ligand-Gated Cation Channels
Published on: May 18, 2009
Pannexin channels: the emerging therapeutic targets
Misbahuddin Mohammad, Hamed Said Habib1
1Rabigh College of Medicine (Liason office), Health Colleges Library, Building No. 13, King Abdulaziz University PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. drmisbah98@gmail.com.
Current Drug Targets
|September 18, 2013
Summary
Pannexins are newly discovered proteins crucial for intercellular communication, distinct from connexins. They regulate calcium waves and ATP release, offering potential therapeutic targets for various diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intercellular communication is vital for physiological functions, mediated by gap junctions and transmembrane channels.
- Vertebrates use connexins, while invertebrates use innexins for channel formation.
- Pannexins, a recently identified protein class homologous to innexins, play a significant role in intercellular signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structure, location, and function of pannexins in intercellular communication.
- To investigate the role of pannexins in cellular calcium waves and ATP release.
- To explore the implications of pannexins in various pathophysiological processes and their potential as therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of pannexin structure and function against connexins and innexins.
- Investigating pannexin involvement in cellular calcium signaling pathways.
- Reviewing literature on pannexin roles in diverse biological and disease states.
Main Results:
- Pannexins exhibit distinct structural and functional properties compared to connexins.
- Pannexins are key mediators of cellular calcium wave initiation and propagation.
- Pannexins facilitate extracellular ATP release and are implicated in purinergic signaling.
- Pannexins are involved in a broad spectrum of cellular functions, including apoptosis, inflammation, and development.
Conclusions:
- Pannexins represent a distinct class of intercellular communication proteins with unique mechanisms.
- Their roles in calcium signaling and ATP release highlight their importance in cellular physiology.
- Pannexins are implicated in numerous diseases, positioning them as promising therapeutic targets for conditions like hypertension and epilepsy.
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