title: [Transient receptor potential, TRP channels: a new family of channels broadly expressed].
abstract: Transient receptor potential, TRP channels are a new superfamily of functionally versatile non-selective cation channels present from yeast to mammals. On the basis of their structural homology, TRP channels are subdivided in 7 groups : TRPC 1-7 Canonical, TRPV 1-6 Vanilloid, TRPM 1-8 Melastatin, TRPP 1-3 Polycystin, TRPML Mucolipin, TRPA Ankyrin and TRPN (NO mechanotransducer potential C), the latter not expressed in mammals. Their cloning and heterologous expression allowed to demonstrating that these channels are generally weakly voltage-dependent. They are activated by various ligands involving a signal transduction cascade as well as directly by multiple compounds, heat and pH. TRP channels are found in a broad range of cell types. TRP channels are essential in allowing animals to sense the outside world and cells to sense their local environment. Following mutations or anomalous behaviour, these channels have a major role in several human diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiopathologie Cardiovasculaire, Inserm U637, CHU Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371, avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. vassort@montp.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassort
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fauconnier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017487:Ankyrins; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels