Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Family of Channel Proteins

with a transient receptor potential (TRP) function in the cell membrane as Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channels. TRP channels play a critical role in the functioning of sensory systems: visual, gustatory, olfactory, auditory, haptic, thermoregulatory, and osmoregulatory. Some members of this superfamily play an important role in the control of growth, differentiation, proliferation, cell polarization, and apoptosis. TRP channels exhibit more diverse activation and selectivity mechanisms than any other group of ion channels-one TRP channel can be activated through multiple mechanisms. However, the TRP family proteins have in common that they play a decisive role in the perception of all major classes of external stimuli and are capable of defining the local changes in the internal environment. The explosion of interest in TRP channels over the past two decades has led to a radical restructuring of the family. The review is devoted to the description of channel proteins receptors of the TRP family, the history of their study, and classification.