Damage to the CNS can cause a differential spatio-temporal release of multiple factors, such as nucleotides, ATP and UTP. The latter interact with neuronal and glial nucleotide receptors. The P2Y 2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y 2 R) has gained prominence as a modulator of gliotic responses after CNS injury. Still, the molecular mechanisms underlying these responses in glia are not fully understood. Membrane-raft microdomains, such as caveolae, and their constituent caveolins, modulate receptor signaling in astrocytes; yet, their role in P2Y 2 R signaling has not been adequately explored. Hence, this study evaluated the role of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in modulating P2Y 2 R subcellular distribution and signaling in human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells. Recombinant hP2Y 2 R expressed in 1321N1 cells and Cav-1 were found to co-fractionate in light-density membrane-raft fractions, colocalize via confocal microscopy, and co-immunoprecipitate. Raft localization was dependent on ATP stimulation and Cav-1 expression. This hP2Y 2 R/Cav-1 distribution and interaction was confirmed with various cell model systems differing in the expression of both P2Y 2 R and Cav-1, and shRNA knockdown of Cav-1 expression. Furthermore, shRNA knockdown of Cav-1 expression decreased nucleotide-induced increases in the intracellular Ca 2؉ concentration in 1321N1 and C6 glioma cells without altering TRAP-6 and carbachol Ca 2؉ responses. In addition, Cav-1 shRNA knockdown also decreased AKT phosphorylation and altered the kinetics of ERK1/2 activation in 1321N1 cells. Our findings strongly suggest that P2Y 2 R interaction with Cav-1 in membrane-raft caveolae of 1321N1 cells modulates receptor coupling to its downstream signaling machinery. Thus, P2Y 2 R/Cav-1 interactions represent a novel target for controlling P2Y 2 R function after CNS injury.Neurodegenerative conditions are among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and have dramatically increased in incidence during the last decade (1, 2). The P2 receptors for extracellular nucleotides have emerged as key modulators of the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration (3-6). G protein-coupled P2Y 2 nucleotide receptors (P2Y 2 Rs) 3 have been identified in both neurons and glia as mediators of pro-inflammatory responses, neurotransmission, apoptosis, proliferation, and cell migration (3-5, 7, 8). In addition, the P2Y 2 Rs have also gained prominence, due to their association with some types of neoplasms, spinal cord injury, and the enhancement of neuronal differentiation (7, 9 -15). Further insight into the spatio-temporal organization of the P2Y 2 R and its signaling cascades in astrocytic cells is required to expand our knowledge of their role in neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, evidence suggests that receptors and associated signaling molecules are not randomly distributed in plasma membranes but are localized in specialized membrane microdomains, namely membrane rafts (MRs), such as caveolae (Cav) (16 -20). MRs are specialized membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and g...