Abstract
The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-gated cation channel with a critical role in many physiological and pathological processes, and shows prominent functional differences across mammalian species, exemplified by larger current responses of the rat (r) P2X7R to ATP and its analogue BzATP and a greater sensitivity to agonists compared with the human (h) P2X7R. Here, we showed that substitution of Val87 residue in the extracellular domain of the hP2X7R with isoleucine in the rP2X7R increased the current responses of the hP2X7R to both ATP and BzATP. Conversely, introduction of reciprocal I87V mutation in the rP2X7R led to a noticeable but statistically insignificant reduction in the current responses of the rP2X7R to ATP and BzATP. The mutations did not affect the sensitivity of the human and rat P2X7Rs to ATP and BzATP. These results suggest a contribution of Val/Ile87 in agonist-induced current responses of human and rat P2X7Rs, which helps to better understand the molecular determinants for species-dependent function of the mammalian P2X7Rs.