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Heteromeric heat sensors

Each of the thermoTRPs senses temperature at its unique rage. Like voltage-gated K channels and CNG channels, thermoTRPs function as a tetrameric complex with four subunits surrounding a centrally located ion permeation pore. The known temperature-sensing ranges are determined for homo-tetramers made of identical subunits. What if the four subunits are not the same? An earlier work in the lab demonstrated that heteromeric thermoTRP channels are indeed functional and distinct from homomeric ones (see Figure 5) (Cheng et al. JGP, 2007). A closer examination of TRPV1/TRPV3 heteromeric channels reveals that they are distinct temperature sensors – the activation temperature fells between that of TRPV1 and TRPV3 (Cheng, Yang, et al. JBC, 2012). Other functional properties are also different.

Figure 5 legend: Heteromeric TRPV1/TRPV3 channels exhibit distinct conductance, gating behaviors, and activation threshold temperatures.