Cardio P2X7 protein receptor
Credit: OHSU News
An illustration shows how the P2X7 protein receptor opens and closes, allowing charged particles to enter a cell and trigger cellular changes. OHSU resarchers used cryoelectron microscopy to obtain the protein's 3D structure for the first time. P2X7 is associated with many diseases, including inflammation, coronary artery disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis. (OHSU)