Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites

The homotrimeric P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) contains three ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites in its ectodomain. Here, we investigated the role of individual ATP<sup>4−</sup> activation sites in rat P2X7R (rP2X7R) using trimeric concatemers consisting of either three wild-type subunit...

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Main Authors: Fritz Markwardt, Malte Berthold, Sanaria Hawro Yakoob, Günther Schmalzing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/855
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author Fritz Markwardt
Malte Berthold
Sanaria Hawro Yakoob
Günther Schmalzing
author_facet Fritz Markwardt
Malte Berthold
Sanaria Hawro Yakoob
Günther Schmalzing
author_sort Fritz Markwardt
collection DOAJ
description The homotrimeric P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) contains three ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites in its ectodomain. Here, we investigated the role of individual ATP<sup>4−</sup> activation sites in rat P2X7R (rP2X7R) using trimeric concatemers consisting of either three wild-type subunits (7-7-7) or one to three subunits with ATP binding sites knocked out by the K64A mutation. Following expression in <i>Xenopus laevis</i> oocytes, ATP<sup>4−</sup>-elicited ion currents were recorded using the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. The 7-7-7 concatamer exhibited a biphasic ATP<sup>4−</sup> concentration dependence, best fit by the sum of two Hill functions, confirming the existence of functionally distinct ATP<sup>4−</sup> activation sites. The activation time course of the 7-7-7 was best approximated by the sum of a fast and a slow exponential saturating activation component. Similarly, deactivation exhibited both fast and slow exponential decay. Only one Hill function was required to best fit the ATP<sup>4−</sup> concentration dependence of concatamers with only two or one ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites, and their deactivation time courses largely lacked the slowly deactivating components. We conclude that the binding of one ATP<sup>4−</sup> is sufficient for partial activation of the rP2X7R and that allosteric effects occur when all three ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites are occupied, leading to distinct functional activation sites.
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spelling doaj-art-e4dd68415cb84daea1c6c1efee526af72025-08-20T03:27:28ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-06-01141285510.3390/cells14120855Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation SitesFritz Markwardt0Malte Berthold1Sanaria Hawro Yakoob2Günther Schmalzing3Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin-Luther-University, D-06097 Halle, GermanyJulius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin-Luther-University, D-06097 Halle, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Pharmacology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyThe homotrimeric P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) contains three ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites in its ectodomain. Here, we investigated the role of individual ATP<sup>4−</sup> activation sites in rat P2X7R (rP2X7R) using trimeric concatemers consisting of either three wild-type subunits (7-7-7) or one to three subunits with ATP binding sites knocked out by the K64A mutation. Following expression in <i>Xenopus laevis</i> oocytes, ATP<sup>4−</sup>-elicited ion currents were recorded using the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. The 7-7-7 concatamer exhibited a biphasic ATP<sup>4−</sup> concentration dependence, best fit by the sum of two Hill functions, confirming the existence of functionally distinct ATP<sup>4−</sup> activation sites. The activation time course of the 7-7-7 was best approximated by the sum of a fast and a slow exponential saturating activation component. Similarly, deactivation exhibited both fast and slow exponential decay. Only one Hill function was required to best fit the ATP<sup>4−</sup> concentration dependence of concatamers with only two or one ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites, and their deactivation time courses largely lacked the slowly deactivating components. We conclude that the binding of one ATP<sup>4−</sup> is sufficient for partial activation of the rP2X7R and that allosteric effects occur when all three ATP<sup>4−</sup> binding sites are occupied, leading to distinct functional activation sites.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/855purinoceptorP2X7activationstructurekineticsvoltage clamp
spellingShingle Fritz Markwardt
Malte Berthold
Sanaria Hawro Yakoob
Günther Schmalzing
Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
Cells
purinoceptor
P2X7
activation
structure
kinetics
voltage clamp
title Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
title_full Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
title_fullStr Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
title_full_unstemmed Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
title_short Activation of the Rat P2X7 Receptor by Functionally Different ATP Activation Sites
title_sort activation of the rat p2x7 receptor by functionally different atp activation sites
topic purinoceptor
P2X7
activation
structure
kinetics
voltage clamp
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/855
work_keys_str_mv AT fritzmarkwardt activationoftheratp2x7receptorbyfunctionallydifferentatpactivationsites
AT malteberthold activationoftheratp2x7receptorbyfunctionallydifferentatpactivationsites
AT sanariahawroyakoob activationoftheratp2x7receptorbyfunctionallydifferentatpactivationsites
AT guntherschmalzing activationoftheratp2x7receptorbyfunctionallydifferentatpactivationsites