A2A+Receptor

=**__A 2A Receptor__**=

Connection Between A 2A Receptor and __Adenyl Cyclase__
Adenosine is an important molecule in the human body. Extracellular adenosine has been linked to different functions involving the central nervous system (CNS) including pain regulation, blood flow, breathing and sleep. It does this through binding to G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), one of which is termed A 2A. This receptor is linked to G s and G olf and upon activation, the intracellular levels of cAMP increase. cAMP is a common secondary messenger in the cell.

In general terms of the G s complex, the α subunit of this protein exchanges GDP for GTP. This allows for the α subunit to break apart from the complex (which contains the β and γ subunits) and bind to adenyl cylase which turns ATP into cAMP as mentioned. However, new research has shown that depending on the tissue type such as that found in the striatum, the favorability of G olf (typically linked with dopamine instead of adenine) over G s is seen in terms of activating adenyl cylcase.

The A 2A receptor can also affect phosphodiesterase where desensitization of A 2A along with increased cAMP leads to increased levels of phosphodiesterase. **Pathway 1** | Previous Page: N/A | Current Page | Next Page: Adenyl Cyclase | **Pathway 2** | Previous Page: N/A | Current Page | Next Page: P hosphodiesterase |