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The mammalian melastatin-related transient receptor potential cation channels: an overview

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Abstract

The mammalian melastatin-related transient receptor potential (TRPM) subfamily contains eight members. TRPM proteins, consisting of six putative transmembrane domains and intracellular N and C termini, form monovalent-permeable cation channels with variable selectivity for Ca2+, Mg2+ and other divalent cations. Some functions are linked to their individual cation selectivity: the highly divalent-permeable cation channels TRPM6 and TRPM7 are involved in the control of Mg2+ influx, whereas the Ca2+-impermeable channels TRPM4 and TRPM5 modulate cellular Ca2+ entry by determining the membrane potential. TRPM2, TRPM3 and TRPM8 mediate a direct influx of Ca2+ in response to specific stimuli. Electrophysiological properties of the founding member, melastatin (TRPM1), are unexplored. The individual TRPM members are activated by different stimuli, including voltage, Ca2+, temperature, cell swelling, lipid compounds and other endogenous or exogenous ligands. This review summarizes molecular features, activation mechanisms, biophysical properties and modulators of TRPM channels.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Fonds der Chemischen Industrie and Sonnenfeld-Stiftung.

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  1. Carl-Ludwig-Institut für Physiologie, Universität Leipzig, Liebigstr. 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Robert Kraft

  2. Institut für Pharmakologie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Thielallee 69-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Christian Harteneck

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Correspondence to Christian Harteneck.

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Kraft, R., Harteneck, C. The mammalian melastatin-related transient receptor potential cation channels: an overview. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 451, 204–211 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-1428-0

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