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Using Symmetrical Organic Cation Solutions to Study P2X7 Ion Permeation

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The P2X7 Receptor

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2510))

Abstract

P2X7 receptors are ATP-gated ion channels permeable to metal cations, such as Na+, K+, and Ca2+. They also exhibit permeability to various large molecular weight species, reaching up to 900 Da, in a process known as macropore formation, which is a unique functional hallmark across the P2X family. While well-documented in a range of different cell types, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon is poorly understood, and has been clouded through the use of electrophysiological methodology prone to artifacts as a result of significant changes in ionic concentrations in asymmetric conditions. In this chapter, we discuss the permeation properties of P2X7, the related methodological challenges and the use of symmetrical organic cation solutions as a useful technique for probing P2X7 permeation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg, CAMB UMR 7199, Strasbourg, France

    Kate Dunning & Thomas Grutter

  2. Channel-Receptors Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR 3571, Paris, France

    Laurie Peverini

  3. University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies (USIAS), Strasbourg, France

    Thomas Grutter

  4. Equipe de Chimie et Neurobiologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR 7199 CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France

    Thomas Grutter

Authors
  1. Kate Dunning
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  2. Laurie Peverini
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  3. Thomas Grutter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Grutter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Annette Nicke

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Dunning, K., Peverini, L., Grutter, T. (2022). Using Symmetrical Organic Cation Solutions to Study P2X7 Ion Permeation. In: Nicke, A. (eds) The P2X7 Receptor. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2510. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2384-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2384-8_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2383-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2384-8

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