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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Expression and Purification of the Human Lipid-sensitive Cation Channel TRPC3 for Structural Determination by Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy
08:27

Expression and Purification of the Human Lipid-sensitive Cation Channel TRPC3 for Structural Determination by Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy

Published on: January 7, 2019

Physiological mechanisms of TRPC activation

James W Putney1

  • 1Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. putney@niehs.nih.gov

Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|September 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels have diverse activation mechanisms, potentially explaining conflicting research. These channels may assemble into multiple functional ion channel types.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cell physiology
  • Ion channel function

Background:

  • Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels are vertebrate homologs of the Drosophila TRP channel.
  • TRPC channels are implicated in calcium (Ca2+) entry, but research presents conflicting results.
  • Existing literature suggests TRPC channel activation by phospholipase C products, membrane trafficking, or store depletion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reconcile divergent experimental findings on TRPC channel activation.
  • To propose a unified model for TRPC channel activation mechanisms.
  • To explore the potential for TRPC channels to form multiple ion channel types.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on TRPC channels.
  • Analysis of experimental conditions and results from various laboratories.
  • Hypothesizing distinct activation pathways based on subunit composition and signaling environment.

Main Results:

  • Experimental discrepancies in TRPC channel research may stem from distinct activation pathways.
  • TRPC channels can be activated by phospholipase C products, membrane trafficking, or intracellular Ca2+ store depletion.
  • These activation mechanisms may depend on TRPC subunit composition and associated signaling complexes.

Conclusions:

  • TRPC channels exhibit diverse activation modes, explaining conflicting experimental data.
  • TRPC channels may participate in the assembly and function of multiple physiologically important ion channels.
  • TRPC channels represent a unique ion channel family due to their versatile assembly and function.

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