Structural and Evolutionary Insights Point to Allosteric Regulation of TRP Ion Channels.

ABSTRACT: The familiar pungent taste of spicy food, the refreshing taste of mint, and many other physiological phenomena are mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. TRP channels are a superfamily of ion channels that are sensitive to diverse chemical and physical stimuli and play diverse roles in biology. In addition to chemical regulation, some family members also sense common physical stimuli, such as temperature or pressure. Since their discovery and cloning in the 1990s and 2000s, understanding the molecular mechanisms governing TRP channel function and polymodal regulation has been a consistent but challenging goal. Until recently, a general lack of high-resolution TRP channel structures had significantly limited a molecular understanding of their function. In the past few

SUBMITTER: Hilton JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8628317 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature