The ligand-gated channels transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and P2X3 have been reported to facilitate colorectal afferent neuron sensitization, thus contributing to organ hypersensitivity and pain. In the present study, we hypothesized that TRPV1 and P2X3 cooperate to modulate colorectal nociception and afferent sensitivity. To test this hypothesis, we employed TRPV1-P2X3 double ...

To survive, all organisms must detect and respond to mechanical cues in their environment. Cells are subjected a plethora of forces, such as hydrostatic pressure, cell-cell contact, stretch, compression, shear stress. Mechanosensitive membrane proteins have evolved across life kingdoms sense forces the membrane. Bacterial mechanosensitive ion channels provide blueprint for understanding fundame...

During sensory transduction, external physical stimuli are translated into an internal biological signal. In vertebrates, hair cells are specialized mechanosensory receptors that transduce sound, gravitational forces, and head movements into electrical signals that are transmitted with remarkable precision and efficiency to afferent neurons. Hair cells have a conserved structure between species...

Important insights in to the function of members of the TRP (transient receptor potential) channel superfamily have been gained from the identification of disease-related mutations. In particular the identification of mutations in the PKD2 gene in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease has revealed a link between TRP channel function, mechanosensation and the role of the primary cilium in...

Although several protein-protein interactions have been reported between transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, they are all known to occur exclusively between members of the same group. The only intergroup interaction described so far is that of TRPP2 and TRPC1; however, the significance of this interaction is unknown. Here, we show that TRPP2 and TRPC1 assemble to form a channel with a ...