Vanilloid transient receptor potential cation channels: an overview
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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Yeast Luminometric and Xenopus Oocyte Electrophysiological Examinations of the Molecular Mechanosensitivity of TRPV4
Published on: December 31, 2013
Rudi Vennekens1, Grzegorz Owsianik, Bernd Nilius
1Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Division of Physiology, Campus Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
The mammalian branch of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels consists of 28 members. They can be subdivided in six main subfamilies: the TRPC ('Canonical'), TRPV ('Vanilloid'), TRPM ('Melastatin'), TRPP ('Polycystin'), TRPML ('Mucolipin') and the TRPA ('Ankyrin') group. The TRPV subfamily comprises channels that are critically involved in nociception and thermo-sensing (TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV4) as well as highly Ca2+ selective channels involved in Ca2+ absorption/reabsorption in mammals (TRPV5, TRPV6). In this review we summarize fundamental physiological properties of all TRPV members in the light of various cellular functions of these channels and their significance in the systemic context of the mammalian organism.
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