TRPA1

Ligand-activated Ca(2+)-permeable, nonselective cation channel involved in pain detection and possibly also in cold perception, oxygen concentration perception, cough, itch, and inner ear function. Has a relatively high Ca(2+) selectivity, with a preference for divalent over monovalent cations (Ca(2+) > Ba(2+) > Mg(2+) > NH4(+) > Li(+) > K(+)), the influx of cation into the cytoplasm leads to membrane depolarization. Has a central role in the pain response to endogenous inflammatory mediators, such as bradykinin and to a diverse array of irritants. Activated by a large variety of structurally unrelated electrophilic and non-electrophilic chemical compounds, such as allylthiocyanate (AITC) from mustard oil or wasabi, cinnamaldehyde, diallyl disulfide (DADS) from garlic, and acrolein, an environmental irritant. Electrophilic ligands activate TRPA1 by interacting with critical N-terminal Cys residues in a covalent manner. Non-electrophile agonists bind at distinct sites in the transmembrane domain to promote channel activation. Also acts as an ionotropic cannabinoid receptor by being activated by delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. May be a component for the mechanosensitive transduction channel of hair cells in inner ear, thereby participating in the perception of sounds (By similarity)..

Function from UniProtKB (O75762), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.