TRP channels

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channel proteins were first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster and have many homologues in other species including humans. TRPs form cationic channels that can detect sensory stimuli such as temperature, pH or oxidative stress and transduce that into either electrical (change in membrane potential) or chemical signals (change in intracellular Ca2+ concentration). In humans, there are 28 TRP genes arranged into 6 subfamilies; TRPA, TRPC, TRPM, TRPML, TRPP, and TRPV. Each TRP channel subunit consists of six putative transmembrane-spanning segments (S1-S6) with a pore-forming loop between S5 and S6. These subunits assemble into tetramers to form functional channels. All functionally characterized TRP channels are permeable to Ca2+ except TRMP4 and 5 which are only permeable to monovalent cations such as Na+. Most TRPs can cause channelopathies which are risk factors for many disease states.

Summary from Reactome (R-HSA-3295583), read 2026-09-23.