P2X receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Receptors [49, 146]) have a trimeric topology [118, 128, 144, 197] with two putative TM domains per subunit, gating primarily Na+, K+ and Ca2+, exceptionally Cl-. The Nomenclature has recommended that for receptors, structural criteria should be initial basis nomenclature where possible. X-ray crystallography indicates funct...

Somatic sensation requires the conversion of physical stimuli into the depolarization of distal nerve endings. A single cRNA derived from sensory neurons renders Xenopus laevis oocytes mechanosensitive and is found to encode a P2Y1 purinergic receptor. P2Y1 mRNA is concentrated in large-fiber dorsal root ganglion neurons. In contrast, P2X3 mRNA is localized to small-fiber sensory neurons and pr...