High zinc sensitivity and pore formation in an invertebrate P2X receptor

Ramin Raouf, Dominique Blais, Philippe Séguéla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To investigate fast purinergic signaling in invertebrates, we examined the functional properties of a P2X receptor subunit cloned from the parasitic platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni. This purinoceptor (SmP2X) displays unambiguous homology of primary sequence with vertebrate P2X subunits. SmP2X subunits assemble into homomeric ATP-gated channels that exhibit slow activation kinetics and are blocked by suramin and PPADS but not TNP-ATP. SmP2X mediates the uptake of the dye YO-PRO-1 through the formation of large pores and can be blocked by submicromolar concentrations of extracellular Zn2+ ions (IC50=0.4 μM). The unique receptor phenotype defined by SmP2X suggests that slow kinetics, modulation by zinc and the ability to form large pores are ancestral properties of P2X receptors. The high sensitivity of SmP2X to zinc further reveals a zinc regulation requirement for the parasite's physiology that could potentially be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-141
Number of pages7
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes
Volume1669
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 May 2005

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