The TRP superfamily forms a functionally important class of cation channels related to the product of the Drosophila trp gene. TRP channels display an unusual diversity in activation mechanisms and permeation properties, but the basis of this diversity is unknown, as the structure of these channels has not been studied in detail. To obtain insight in the pore architecture of TRPV6, a Ca(2+)-sel...

Background and structure Transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) is one of 6 members of the subfamily of vanilloid receptors that belongs to the family of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. TRP channels are an intrinsic part of the mammalian sensory system responding to a broad range of stimuli such as temperature, touch, pain, osmolarity, pheromones, and taste (8). ...

The transient receptor potential (TRP) protein superfamily consists of a diverse group of cation channels that bear structural similarities to Drosophila TRP. TRP channels play important roles in nonexcitable cells; however, an emerging theme is that many TRP-related proteins are expressed predominantly in the nervous system and function in sensory physiology. The TRP superfamily is divided int...

Numerous studies demonstrated that membrane cholesterol is a major regulator of ion channel function. The goal of this review is to discuss significant advances that have been recently achieved in elucidating the mechanisms responsible for cholesterol regulation of ion channels. The first major insight that comes from growing number of studies that based on the sterol specificity of cholesterol...

Mammalian TRP channel proteins form six-transmembrane cation-permeable channels that may be grouped into six subfamilies on the basis of amino acid sequence homology (TRPC, TRPV, TRPM, TRPA, TRPP, and TRPML). Recent studies of TRP channels indicate that they are involved in numerous fundamental cell functions and are considered to play an important role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. ...

The Mediterranean diet may be responsible for lower cardiovascular disease rates in Southern versus Northern European countries. Oregano is used abundantly in Mediterranean cooking, but potential cardiovascular benefits have not been investigated. Carvacrol, present in oregano, activates the transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels TRPA1 and TRPV3. We hypothesized that chemosensing of...

The ability of animals to avoid strongly alkaline pH is critical for survival. However, the means by which they sense high pH has not been determined. We have previously found that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) avoids environmental pH above 10.5. Detection involves ASH nociceptive neurons as the major sensors. Upon stimulation, transient receptor potential vanilloid-type (TRP...