The guanine-based purinergic system: the tale of an orphan neuromodulation

Guanine-based purines (GBPs) have been recently proposed to be not only metabolic agents but also extracellular signaling molecules that regulate important functions in the central nervous system. In such way, GBPs-mediated neuroprotection, behavioral responses and neuronal plasticity have been broa...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Liberto, Valentina Di, Mudò, Giuseppa, Garozzo, Roberta, Frinchi, Monica, Fernández Dueñas, Víctor, Iorio, Patrizia Di, Ciccarelli, Renata, Caciagli, Francesco, Condorelli, Daniele F., Ciruela Alférez, Francisco, Belluardo, Natale
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/140855
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/140855
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Purines
Trifosfat de guanosina
Adenosina
Guanosine triphosphatase
Adenosine
Descripción
Sumario:Guanine-based purines (GBPs) have been recently proposed to be not only metabolic agents but also extracellular signaling molecules that regulate important functions in the central nervous system. In such way, GBPs-mediated neuroprotection, behavioral responses and neuronal plasticity have been broadly described in the literature. However, while a number of these functions (i.e., GBPs neurothophic effects) have been well-established, the molecular mechanisms behind these GBPs-dependent effects are still unknown. Furthermore, no plasma membrane receptors for GBPs have been described so far, thus GBPs are still considered orphan neuromodulators. Interestingly, an intricate and controversial functional interplay between GBPs effects and adenosine receptors activity has been recently described, thus triggering the hypothesis that GBPs mechanism of action might somehow involve adenosine receptors. Here, we review recent data describing the GBPs role in the brain. We focus on the involvement of GBPs regulating neuronal plasticity, and on the new hypothesis based on putative GBPs receptors. Overall, we expect to shed some light on the GBPs world since although these molecules might represent excellent candidates for certain neurological diseases management, the lack of putative GBPs receptors precludes any high throughput screening intent for the search of effective GBPs-based drugs.