AB5226-50UL Sigma-AldrichAnti-P2X4 Receptor Antibody

Extracellular ATP exerts pronounced biological actions in virtually every organ or tissue that has been studied. In the central and peripheral nervous system, ATP acts as a fast excitatory transmitter in certain synaptic pathways [Evans, R.J., Derkach, V. & Surprenant, A. (1992) Nature (London) 357, 503-505; Edwards, F.A., Gigg, A.J. & Colquhoun, D. (1992) Nature (London) 359, 144-147]. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of complementary DNA from rat brain, encoding an additional member (P2X4) of the emerging multigenic family of ligand-gated ATP channels, the P2X receptors. Expression in Xenopus oocytes gives an ATP-activated cation-selective channel that is highly permeable to Ca2+ and whose sensitivity is modulated by extracellular Zn2+. Surprisingly, the current elicited by ATP is almost insensitive to the common P2X antagonist suramin. In situ hybridization reveals the expression of P2X4 mRNA in central nervous system neurons. Northern blot and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrate a wide distribution of P2X4 transcripts in various tissues, including blood vessels and leukocytes. This suggests that the P2X4 receptor might mediate not only ATP-dependent synaptic transmission in the central nervous system but also a wide repertoire of biological responses in diverse tissues.

There is strong evidence that ATP acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the periphery, yet little is known about fast central ATP-mediated transmission. We report here the molecular cloning of a novel neuronal ionotropic ATP receptor of the P2x subtype (P2x3) isolated from rat brain. This central P2x channel subunit has significant amino acid homology with two recently cloned ATP-gated channels from rat smooth muscle (47%) and pheochromocytoma PC12 cells (37%). P2x3 receptor contains the characteristic 10 conserved cysteines of ATP-gated channels, a putative extracellular region homologous to the Walker type A motif found in various nucleotide-binding proteins, and two potential sites for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. Homomeric receptor P2x3 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes produce rapid cation-selective purinergic currents that are potentiated by zinc ions and reversibly blocked by the P2x antagonists suramin, Reactive Blue 2, and pyridoxalphosphate-6-axophenyl-2U,4U-disulfonic acid. P2x3-receptor subunit mRNA is found in the Purkinje cells and the granule cells of the cerebellum as well as in CA3 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus that are innervated by zinc-rich axon terminals of mossy fibers. Our results suggest that fast excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by zinc-sensitive ATP-gated channels is widespread in mammalian brain.

A cDNA was cloned which encodes a new ATP-gated ion channel (P2X4 receptor). ATP induces a cationic current in HEK293 cells transfected with the P2X4 receptor. However, the current is almost completely insensitive to antagonists effective at other P2X receptors. Sensitivity to two of these antagonists (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid and pyridoxal 5-phosphate) is restored by replacement of Glu249 by lysine, which occurs at the equivalent position in P2X1 and P2X2 receptors. P2X4 RNA is found by in situ hybridization in the brain, peripheral ganglia and epithelia including serosal cells of salivary glands. Recordings from rat submandibular gland cells showed ATP-induced currents that are also insensitive to antagonists. These results define a further member of P2X receptor family, and they identify an amino acid residue involved in antagonist binding. They also introduce a new phenotype for ATP responses at P2X receptors--insensitivity to currently known antagonists.