Transient receptor potential channel

Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) are a group of ion channels located mostly on the plasma membrane of numerous animal cell types. There are about 28 TRP channels that share some structural similarity to each other.^[1] These are grouped into two broad groups: Group 1 includes TRPC ( "C" for canonical), TRPV ("V" for vanilloid), TRPM ("M" for melastatin), TRPN, and TRPA. In group 2, there are TRPP ("P" for polycystic) and TRPML ("ML" for mucolipin). Many of these channels mediate a variety of sensations like the sensations of pain, hotness, warmth or coldness, different kinds of tastes, 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.^[2] Some TRP channels are activated by molecules found in spices like garlic (allicin), chilli pepper (capsaicin), wasabi (allyl isothiocyanate); others are activated by menthol, camphor, peppermint, and cooling agents; yet others are activated by molecules found in cannabis (i.e., THC, CBD and CBN). Some act as sensors of osmotic pressure, volume, stretch, and vibration.

These ion channels are relatively non-selectively permeable to cations, including sodium, calcium and magnesium. TRP channels were initially discovered in trp-mutant strain of the fruit fly Drosophila. Later, TRP channels were found in vertebrates where they are ubiquitously expressed in many cell types and tissues. Most TRP channels are composed of 6 membrane-spanning helices with intracellular N- and C-termini. Mammalian TRP channels are activated and regulated by a wide variety of stimuli and are expressed throughout the body.

Sub-families

They are encoded by at least 28-30^[3] channel subunit genes divided into seven sub-families:

• TRPC (canonical) – associated with Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
• TRPV (vanilloid) – TRPV1 mediates the pungent odour and pain/hot sensations associated with capsaicin and piperine.
• TRPA (ankyrin) - Stress (mechanical) receptor. Disputed to be temperature-sensitive; activated by isothiocyanates (pungent chemicals in substances such as mustard oil and wasabi).
• TRPM (melastatin) – associated with Hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia
• TRPP (polycystin) – associated with Polycystic kidney disease
• TRPML (mucolipin) -- associated with Mucolipidosis type IV
• TRPN (NOMPC) – no mechanoreceptor potential C - not found in mammals

Structure

Most TRP channels are composed of 6 membrane-spanning helices with intracellular N- and C-termini. Mammalian TRP channels are activated and regulated by a wide variety of stimuli including many post-transcriptional mechanisms like phosphorylation, G-protein receptor coupling, ligand-gating, and ubiquitination. The receptors are found in almost all cell types and largely localized in the cell membrane, modulating ion entry.

Function

TRP channels modulate ion entry driving forces and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ transport machinery in the plasma membrane, where most of them are locate. TRPs have important interactions with other proteins and often form signaling complexes, the exact pathways of which are unknown.^[4] TRP channels were initially discovered in the trp mutant strain of the fruit fly Drosophila ^[5] which displayed transient elevation of potential in response to light stimuli and were so named "transient receptor potential" channels.^[6] TRPMs function as intracellular calcium release channels and thus serve an important role in organelle regulation.^[4] Importantly, many of these channels mediate a variety of sensations like the sensations of pain, hotness, warmth or coldness, different kinds of tastes, pressure, and vision. In the body, some TRP channels are thought to behave like microscopic thermometers and are used in animals to sense hot or cold. TRPs act as sensors of osmotic pressure, volume, stretch, and vibration. TRPs have been seen to have complex multidimensional roles in sensory signaling. Many TRPs function as intracellular calcium release channels.

Pain and Temperature Sensation

Trp ion channels convert energy into action potentials in somatosensory nociceptors.^[7] Thermo-TRP channels have a C-terminal domain that is responsible for thermosensation and have a specific interchangeable region that allows them to sense temperature stimuli that is tied to ligand regulatory processes.^[8] There are 6 different Thermo-TRP channels and each plays a different role. For instance, TRPM8 relates to mechanisms of sensing cold, TRPV1 contributes to heat and inflammation sensations, and TRPA1 facilitates many signaling pathways like sensory transduction, nociception, inflammation and oxidative stress.^[7]

Taste

The TRP channels play a significant role in taste with channels responding to different tastes. TRPA responds to mustard oil, wasabi, and cinnamon, TRPA1 and TRPV responds to garlic (allicin), TRPV responds to chilli pepper (capsaicin), TRPA responds to wasabi (allyl isothiocyanate) and mustard oil; Trpm is activated by menthol, camphor, peppermint, and cooling agents; yet others are activated by molecules (THC, CBD and CBN) found in marijuana.

TRP-like channels in insect vision

Figure 1. Light-activated TRPL channels in Periplaneta americana photoreceptors. A, a typical current through TRPL channels was evoked by a 4-s pulse of bright light (horizontal bar). B, a photoreceptor membrane voltage response to the light-induced activation of TRPL channels, data from the same cell are shown

The trp-mutant fruit flies, which lack a functional copy of trp gene, are characterized by a transient response to light, unlike wild-type flies that demonstrate a sustained photoreceptor cell activity in response to light.^[9] A distantly related isoform of TRP channel, TRP-like channel (TRPL), was later identified in Drosophila photoreceptors, where it is expressed at approximately 10- to 20-fold lower levels than TRP protein. A mutant fly, trpl, was subsequently isolated. Apart from structural differences, the TRP and TRPL channels differ in cation permeability and pharmacological properties.

TRP/TRPL channels are solely responsible for depolarization of insect photoreceptor plasma membrane in response to light. When these channels open, they allow sodium and calcium to enter the cell down the concentration gradient, which depolarizes the membrane. Variations in light intensity affect the total number of open TRP/TRPL channels, and, therefore, the degree of membrane depolarization. These graded voltage responses propagate to photoreceptor synapses with second-order retinal neurons and further to the brain.

It is important to note that the mechanism of insect photoreception is dramatically different from that in mammals. Excitation of rhodopsin in mammalian photoreceptors leads to the hyperpolarization of the receptor membrane but not to depolarization as in the insect eye. In Drosophila and, it is presumed, other insects, a phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated signaling cascade links photoexcitation of rhodopsin to the opening of the TRP/TRPL channels. Although numerous activators of these channels such as phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were known for years, a key factor mediating chemical coupling between PLC and TRP/TRPL channels remained a mystery until recently. It was found that breakdown of a lipid product of PLC cascade, diacylglycerol (DAG), by the enzyme Diacylglycerol lipase, generates PUFAs that can activate TRP channels, thus initiating membrane depolarization in response to light.^[10] This mechanism of TRP channel activation may be well-preserved among other cell types where these channels perform various functions.

Clinical Significance

Mutations in TRPs have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders, skeletal dysplasia, kidney disorders,^[4] and may play an important role in cancer. TRPs may make important therapeutic targets. There is significant clinical significance to TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3 and TRPM8’s role as thermoreceptors, and TRPV4 and TRPA1’s role as mechanoreceptors; reduction of chronic pain may be possible by targeting ion channels involved in thermal, chemical, and mechanical sensation to reduce their sensitivity to stimuli.^[11] For instance the use of TRPV1 agonists would potentially inhibit nociception at TRPV1, particularly in pancreatic tissue where TRPV1 is highly expressed.^[12] The TRPV1 agonist capsaicin, found in chili peppers, has been indicated to relieve neuropathic pain.^[4] TRPV1 agonists inhibit nociception at TRPV1

Role in Cancer

Altered expression of TRP proteins often leads to tumorigenesis, clearly seen in TRPM1, TRPV6, TRPM1.^[12] Particularly high levels of TRPM1 and TRPV6 in prostate cancer and of TRPM1 in melanomas have been noted. Such observations could be helpful in following cancer progression and could lead to the development of drugs over activating ion channels, leading to apoptosis and necrosis. Much research remains to be done as to whether TRP channel mutations lead to cancer progression or whether they are associated mutations.

History of Drosophila TRP channels

The original TRP-mutant in Drosophila was first described by Cosens and Manning in 1969 as "a mutant strain of D. melanogaster which, though behaving phototactically positive in a T-maze under low ambient light, is visually impaired and behaves as though blind". It also showed an abnormal ERG response to light^[9] and it was investigated subsequently by Baruch Minke, a post-doc in the group of William Pak, and named TRP according to its behavior in the ERG.^[13] The identity of the mutated protein was unknown until it was cloned by Craig Montell, a post-doctoral researcher in Gerald Rubin's research group, in 1989, who noted its predicted structural relationship to channels known at the time ^[14] and Roger Hardie and Baruch Minke who provided evidence in 1992 that it is an ion channel that opens in response to light stimulation.^[15] The TRPL channel was cloned and characterized in 1992 by the research group of Leonard Kelly.^[16]

References

External links

• Transient Receptor Potential Channels at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• "Transient Receptor Potential Channels". IUPHAR Database of Receptors and Ion Channels. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 
• "TRIP Database". a manually curated database of protein-protein interactions for mammalian TRP channels.