ATP receptors in sickness, pain and death

A Brake1, M Schumacher, D Julius

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Chemistry & Biology
|April 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular ATP, a molecule outside cells, triggers various responses. Cell-surface ATP receptors, recently identified, offer new drug targets for diseases like inflammation and pain.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a signaling molecule.
  • ATP mediates diverse physiological processes, including cell death and synaptic transmission.
  • Understanding ATP's role is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of cell-surface ATP receptors.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for various diseases.
  • To explore the link between ATP signaling and disease treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Gene-cloning techniques were employed.
  • Identification of a novel family of cell-surface ATP receptors.
  • Analysis of receptor function and distribution (implied).

Main Results:

  • A family of cell-surface ATP receptors has been discovered.
  • These receptors represent a new class of molecular targets.
  • The identified receptors are implicated in various biological responses.

Conclusions:

  • Cell-surface ATP receptors are key mediators of extracellular ATP signaling.
  • These receptors hold promise as targets for novel therapeutics.
  • Potential applications include treating airway diseases, cardiovascular conditions, inflammation, and pain.

Related Concept Videos

Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis01:16

Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis

Necrosis is a form of irreversible cell death caused by severe injury such as ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Unlike programmed cell death, it is an uncontrolled, pathological process that typically provokes inflammation in surrounding tissues.Pathophysiologic ChangesNecrosis begins when cells sustain critical damage, leading to swelling of organelles, particularly mitochondria, and rapid ATP depletion. As energy levels decline, membrane ion pumps fail, leading to calcium influx and eventually,...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
ATP Synthase: Mechanism01:48

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

In animals, the mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase is the key protein that synthesizes ATP molecules through a complex catalytic mechanism. While the nuclear genome encodes the majority of ATP synthase subunits, the mitochondrial genome encodes some of the enzyme's most critical components. The formation of this multi-subunit enzyme is a complex multi-step process regulated at the level of transcription, translation, and assembly. Defects in one or more of these steps can result in decreased ATP...
ATP Synthase: Structure01:18

ATP Synthase: Structure

ATP synthase or ATPase is among the most conserved proteins found in bacteria, mammals, and plants. This enzyme can catalyze a forward reaction in response to the electrochemical gradient, producing ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. ATP synthase can also work in a reverse direction by hydrolyzing ATP and generating an electrochemical gradient. Different forms of ATP synthases have evolved special features to meet the specific demands of the cell. Based on their specific feature, ATP...