OPINION: History and Perspectives of ASICs

The author recalls several particularly memorable events during his scientific career that led to the discovery of acid-sensing ion channels and ionotropic purinergic receptors. The readers learn of the events of 1975 when the first intracellular perfusion of the neuronal soma has been achieved- the event that led to the precise measurement of the calcium currents through the neuronal plasma membrane. Next, 1980 brings us to the functional discovery of the neuronal proton receptors found in mammalian sensory neurons. The molecular identity of these receptors was discovered in the lab of Dr. M. Lazdunsky and they were named acid-sensing ion channels or ASICs. Now it is clear that every mammalian neuron expresses at least one member of the ASICs family. And yet, ASICs are known for their functional diversity which is currently being studied extensively due to their prominence as pharmacological targets. Eventually, readers learn of the events of 1983 and the functional discovery of ionotropic purinergic receptors, and their molecular identification in the lab of Dr. R.A. North that coined the name of P2X ionotropic receptors.