title: Biophysical analysis of thermosensitive TRP channels with a special focus on the cold receptor TRPM8.
abstract: Mammals maintain homeostatic control of their body temperature. Therefore, these organisms are expected to have adaptations that confer the ability to detect and react to both self and ambient temperature. Temperature-activated ion channels have been discovered to be the primary molecular determinants of thermosensation. The most representative group of these determinants constitutes members of the transient receptor potential superfamily, TRP, which are activated by either low or high temperatures covering the whole range of physiologically relevant temperatures. This review makes a critical assessment of existing analytical methods of temperature-activated TRP channel mechanisms using the cold-activated TRPM8 channel as a paradigm.
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile; Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Neurociencias; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carrasquel-Ursulaez
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Universidad de Valparaíso ; Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moldenhauer
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Universidad de Valparaíso ; Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Universidad de Valparaíso ; Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.affiliation: Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso; Universidad de Valparaíso; Valparaíso, Chile; Departamento de Biología; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Chile; Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alvarez
keywords: DRG, dorsal root ganglion; F, Faraday; G0, Standard molar Gibbs free energy; H0, Standard molar enthalpy; Q10, temperature coefficient; R, universal gas constant; S0, Standard molar entropy; T, temperature; TG, trigeminal ganglion; TRP, transient receptor potential