title: The mammalian melastatin-related transient receptor potential cation channels: an overview.
abstract: The mammalian melastatin-related transient receptor potential (TRPM) subfamily contains eight members. TRPM proteins, consisting of six putative transmembrane domains and intracellular N and C termini, form monovalent-permeable cation channels with variable selectivity for Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and other divalent cations. Some functions are linked to their individual cation selectivity: the highly divalent-permeable cation channels TRPM6 and TRPM7 are involved in the control of Mg(2+) influx, whereas the Ca(2+)-impermeable channels TRPM4 and TRPM5 modulate cellular Ca(2+) entry by determining the membrane potential. TRPM2, TRPM3 and TRPM8 mediate a direct influx of Ca(2+) in response to specific stimuli. Electrophysiological properties of the founding member, melastatin (TRPM1), are unexplored. The individual TRPM members are activated by different stimuli, including voltage, Ca(2+), temperature, cell swelling, lipid compounds and other endogenous or exogenous ligands. This review summarizes molecular features, activation mechanisms, biophysical properties and modulators of TRPM channels.
authors.affiliation: Carl-Ludwig-Institut für Physiologie, Universität Leipzig, Liebigstr. 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harteneck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium