PURINE RECEPTORS Meaning and
Definition
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Purine receptors are a class of cell surface receptors found in various tissues and organs of the body that specifically bind to molecules called purines. Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as building blocks for DNA, RNA, and ATP, which is the energy currency of cells.
Purine receptors are classified into two major types: P1 receptors and P2 receptors. P1 receptors, also known as adenosine receptors, specifically bind to the purine molecule called adenosine. These receptors are involved in various physiological processes, including neurotransmission, regulation of blood flow, immune responses, and inflammation. Activation of P1 receptors typically leads to inhibition of cell function.
P2 receptors, on the other hand, are further divided into P2X receptors and P2Y receptors. P2X receptors are ion channels that open when they bind to purines such as ATP. They are involved in fast signaling and can mediate responses to cellular damage, pain, and inflammation. P2Y receptors, on the other hand, are G protein-coupled receptors that activate intracellular signaling pathways upon binding to various purines, including ATP, ADP, and UTP. These receptors are involved in a wide range of processes such as neurotransmission, platelet aggregation, smooth muscle contraction, and immune responses.
Overall, purine receptors play a crucial role in physiological and pathological processes by mediating cellular responses to purines such as adenosine and ATP. Understanding the function and regulation of these receptors is important for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for various diseases and conditions.
Common Misspellings for PURINE RECEPTORS
- ourine receptors
- lurine receptors
- -urine receptors
- 0urine receptors
- pyrine receptors
- phrine receptors
- pjrine receptors
- pirine receptors
- p8rine receptors
- p7rine receptors
- pueine receptors
- pudine receptors
- pufine receptors
- putine receptors
- pu5ine receptors
- pu4ine receptors
- purune receptors
- purjne receptors
- purkne receptors
- purone receptors
Etymology of PURINE RECEPTORS
The word "purine" originated from the Latin term "purum", meaning "pure", which refers to the crystalline compound that was first isolated from urine in 1818. In 1844, the German chemist Emil Fischer identified the compound as a nucleotide known as adenine. Adenine, along with its derivative compound guanine, belong to a class of organic compounds called purines.
The term "receptor" comes from the Latin word "recipere", meaning "to receive". In the context of biology, a receptor is a molecule located on the cell surface or within the cell that can bind specific substances, such as hormones or neurotransmitters, and trigger biological responses.
Therefore, the term "purine receptors" refers to the receptors that bind and respond to purine compounds, such as adenosine and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which are important signaling molecules in various biological processes.
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