Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Yeast Luminometric and Xenopus Oocyte Electrophysiological Examinations of the Molecular Mechanosensitivity of TRPV4
Published on: December 31, 2013
Agonist-dependence of functional properties for common nonsynonymous variants of human transient receptor potential
Sen Wang1, John Joseph1, Luda Diatchenko2
1The Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract:
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a polymodal receptor activated by capsaicin, heat, and acid, which plays critical roles in thermosensation and pain. In addition, TRPV1 also contributes to multiple pathophysiological states in respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal systems. These contributions are further supported by evidence that variations in the human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) gene are associated with various physiological and pathological phenotypes. However, it is not well understood how the variations in hTRPV1 affect channel functions. In this study, we examined functional consequences of amino acid variations of hTRPV1 induced by 5 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that most commonly exist in the human population. Using electrophysiological assays in HEK293 cells, we examined 9 parameters: activation, Ca permeation, and desensitization after activation by capsaicin, acid, and heat. Our results demonstrated that the 5 SNPs differentially affected functional properties of hTRPV1 in an agonist-dependent manner. Based upon the directionality of change of each phenotype and cumulative changes in each SNP, we classified the 5 SNPs into 3 presumptive functional categories: gain of function (hTRPV1 Q85R, P91S, and T469I), loss of function (I585V), and mixed (M315I). These results reveal a spectrum of functional variation among common hTRPV1 polymorphisms in humans and may aid mechanistic interpretation of phenotypes associated with nonsynonymous hTRPV1 SNPs under pathophysiological conditions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous...
The Two-State Receptor Model
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with...
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
Drug-Receptor Interactions
Several parameters, such as the drug's affinity for its receptor and its efficacy, which is its ability to activate the receptor, determine the drug's effect on the tissue....
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters

