Transient receptor potential channel

Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) are a group of <a href="/facts/Ion_channel/A46LARFH">ion channels</a> located mostly on the <a href="/facts/Plasma_membrane/vAXSD0DT">plasma membrane</a> of numerous animal cell types. Most of these are grouped into two broad groups: Group 1 includes <a href="/facts/TRPC/YcbtaH83">TRPC</a> ( "C" for canonical), <a href="/facts/TRPV/ec8URIl3">TRPV</a> ("V" for <a href="/facts/Vanilloid/xfFrjkeo">vanilloid</a>), TRPVL ("VL" for vanilloid-like), <a href="/facts/TRPM/he77tVJj">TRPM</a> ("M" for melastatin), <a href="/facts/TRPS/Q6uj94wP">TRPS</a> ("S" for soromelastatin), <a href="/facts/TRPN/9gMJVCRH">TRPN</a> ("N" for mechanoreceptor potential C), and <a href="/facts/TRPA_(channel)/QjYKvRXB">TRPA</a> ("A" for ankyrin). Group 2 consists of <a href="/facts/TRPP/Aj32BYqp">TRPP</a> ("P" for polycystic) and <a href="/facts/TRPML/6AoSsWag">TRPML</a> ("ML" for mucolipin). Other less-well categorized TRP channels exist, including yeast channels and a number of Group 1 and Group 2 channels present in non-animals. Many of these channels mediate a variety of sensations such as pain, temperature, different kinds of taste, pressure, and vision. In the body, some TRP channels are thought to behave like microscopic thermometers and used in animals to sense hot or cold. Some TRP channels are activated by molecules found in spices like garlic (<a href="/facts/Allicin/tPLWtC2a">allicin</a>), chili pepper (<a href="/facts/Capsaicin/aXaaFxDp">capsaicin</a>), wasabi (<a href="/facts/Allyl_isothiocyanate/5b0SaJHF">allyl isothiocyanate</a>); others are activated by <a href="/facts/Menthol/Pdg9F3pS">menthol</a>, <a href="/facts/Camphor/53KvP2Rw">camphor</a>, peppermint, and cooling agents; yet others are activated by molecules found in <a href="/facts/Cannabis/gjdsgtoh">cannabis</a> (i.e., <a href="/facts/THC/hAjxYjLc">THC</a>, <a href="/facts/Cannabidiol/PgnVbNqo">CBD</a> and <a href="/facts/Cannabinol/VQ4L4D2J">CBN</a>) or <a href="/facts/Stevia_rebaudiana/QxwNdjvb">stevia</a>. Some act as sensors of osmotic pressure, volume, stretch, and vibration. Most of the channels are activated or inhibited by signaling lipids and contribute to a family of <a href="/facts/Lipid-gated_ion_channels/GAU2oUJK">lipid-gated ion channels</a>.
These <a href="/facts/Ion_channel/A46LARFH">ion channels</a> have a relatively non-selective permeability to <a href="/facts/Cation/wrbwhF3z">cations</a>, including <a href="/facts/Sodium/eYuSPu2V">sodium</a>, <a href="/facts/Calcium/hf252CC0">calcium</a> and <a href="/facts/Magnesium/XyIhd2FG">magnesium</a>.
TRP channels were initially discovered in the so-called "transient receptor potential" mutant (trp-mutant) strain of the fruit fly <a href="/facts/Drosophila/P4K7RkJl">Drosophila</a>, hence their name (see History of DrosophilaTRP channels below). Later, TRP channels were found in vertebrates where they are ubiquitously expressed in many cell types and tissues. TRP channels are tetrameric, with each protomer composed of 6 <a href="/facts/Alpha_helix/7CESPIYJ">membrane-spanning helices</a> with intracellular N- and <a href="/facts/C_terminus/ws4scHgT">C-termini</a>. Mammalian TRP channels are activated and regulated by a wide variety of stimuli and are expressed throughout the body.

Transient receptor potential channel open-in-new

Transient receptor potential channel