Evolutionary adaptations of TRPA1 thermosensitivity and skin thermoregulation in vertebrates.

ABSTRACT: Skin pigmentation contributes to thermoregulation in ectothermic vertebrates, while homeotherms rely on insulation such as feathers, fur, or blubber. Heat-sensing in vertebrates largely depends on transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, with TRPA1 showing evolutionary shifts in sensitivity. The exploration of a role for TRP channels in skin physiology has largely focused on human pigmentation and overlooked the evolution of different thermoregulatory structures in the integument of distinct vertebrates. We investigated heat-induced skin darkening in the ectotherm Xenopus laevis and found TRPA1 mediates melanosome dispersion. Conversely, TRPA1 mediates cold sensation in rodents and UV-induced tanning in humans. In Euarchontoglires, a switch to TRPA1 cold thermal sensitivity corr

SUBMITTER: Bertolesi GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446388 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature