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TRP channels entering the structural era
Author(s) -
Gaudet Rachelle
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.155812
Subject(s) - transient receptor potential channel , gating , neuroscience , channel (broadcasting) , ion channel , biology , structural biology , computer science , computational biology , chemistry , nanotechnology , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , telecommunications , materials science , genetics
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are important in many neuronal and non‐neuronal physiological processes. The past 2 years have seen much progress in the use of structural biology techniques to elucidate molecular mechanisms of TRP channel gating and regulation. Two approaches have proven fruitful: (i) a divide‐and‐conquer strategy has provided high‐resolution structural details of TRP channel fragments although it fails to explain how these fragments are integrated in the full channel; and (ii) electron microscopy of entire TRP channels has yielded low‐resolution images that provide a basis for testable models of TRP channel architecture. The results of each approach, summarized in this review, provide a preview of what the future holds in TRP channel structural biology.