Institute of Membrane & Systems Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK,
Purinergic Signal. 2009 Sep;5(3):269-72. doi: 10.1007/s11302-008-9127-x. Epub 2008 Nov 18.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an ancient and fundamentally important biological molecule involved in both intracellular and extracellular activities. P2X ionotropic and P2Y metabotropic receptors have been cloned and characterised in mammals. ATP plays a central physiological role as a transmitter molecule in processes including the sensation of pain, taste, breathing and inflammation via the activation of P2X receptors. P2X receptors are structurally distinct from glutamate and Cys-loop/nicotinic receptors and form the third major class of ligand-gated ion channel. Yet, despite the importance of P2X receptors, both as physiological mediators and therapeutic targets, the evolutionary origins and phylogenicity of ATP signalling via P2X receptors remain unclear.
三磷酸腺苷（ATP）是一种古老而极其重要的生物分子，参与细胞内和细胞外活动。在哺乳动物中，已克隆和鉴定了 P2X 离子型和 P2Y 代谢型受体。ATP 作为一种递质分子，在包括疼痛感觉、味觉、呼吸和炎症在内的过程中发挥着核心的生理作用，通过激活 P2X 受体来实现。P2X 受体在结构上不同于谷氨酸和 Cys 环/烟碱型受体，形成了配体门控离子通道的第三大类。然而，尽管 P2X 受体作为生理介质和治疗靶点非常重要，但通过 P2X 受体的 ATP 信号转导的进化起源和系统发生仍然不清楚。
