Figure 2. Adenosine kinase – the key regulator to fine-tune neurotransmission.

Adenosine kinase as the key sensor and regulator of ambient adenosine, plays a pivotal role in fine-tuning glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission based on adenosine’s activation of adenosine receptors with opposing activities (A₁R versus A_2AR). Crosstalk between receptors and components of glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmissions allows integrating and fine-tuning these transmitter systems. Thus, any imbalance in the adenosine system will have pathological downstream effects via altered glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission.