A TRP channel that senses cold stimuli and menthol.
A distinct subset of sensory neurons are thought to directly sense changes in thermal energy through their termini in the skin. Very little is known about the molecules that mediate thermoreception by these neurons. Vanilloid Receptor 1 (VR1), a member of the TRP family of channels, is activated by noxious heat. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of TRPM8, a distant relative of VR1. TRPM8 is specifically expressed in a subset of pain- and temperature-sensing neurons. Cells overexpressing the TRPM8 channel can be activated by cold temperatures and by a cooling agent, menthol. Our identification of a cold-sensing TRP channel in a distinct subpopulation of sensory neurons implicates an expanded role for this family of ion channels in somatic sensory detection.
Peier
Andrea M
AM
Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Moqrich
Aziz
A
Hergarden
Anne C
AC
Reeve
Alison J
AJ
Andersson
David A
DA
Story
Gina M
GM
Earley
Taryn J
TJ
Dragoni
Ilaria
I
McIntyre
Peter
P
Bevan
Stuart
S
Patapoutian
Ardem
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016466:CHO Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006224:Cricetinae; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008610:Menthol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D013823:Thermoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000982:Antipruritics; D015220:Calcium Channels; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D008610:Menthol; D002118:Calcium