2 research outputs found
Neurotransmission by ATP: New insights, novel mechanisms
137-147Purines have long been known for their
roles in extracellular signaling. One of the most interesting
functions
to come to light recently has been the involvement,
particularly
of
adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), as a
neurotransmitter in the central and the sympathetic nervous system. ATP is stored in and
released from synaptic nerve terminals, like other
neurotransmitters, and is known to act post-synaptically
via
specific rapidly-conducting, ligand-gated ion channels, the P2X
receptors. Another interesting feature is the discovery that ATP is widely found to
be a "co-transmitter" at the same synapses in combination
with
other
neurotransmitters
such
as
noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and GABA, altering our picture
of the biophysics and
biochemistry of neurotransmission at these synapses. We describe
here these and other aspects of neurotransmission by ATP being
investigated vigorously today, including recent
findings on P2X receptors and those on the synaptic inactivation
of ATP by ecto-ATPase. We conclude by pointing out possible
pharmacological and clinical implications of neurotransmission
by ATP