Journal club 2013-02-01

A Heat-Sensitive TRP Channel Expressed in Keratinocytes

Andrea M. Peier,1 Alison J. Reeve,2 David A. Andersson,2 Aziz Moqrich,3 Taryn J. Earley,3 Anne C. Hergarden,1 Gina M. Story,3 Sian Colley,2 John B. Hogenesch,1 Peter McIntyre,2 Stuart Bevan,2 Ardem Patapoutian1,3*

1073140s

Science-2002-Peier-2046-9

Mechanical and thermal cues stimulate a specialized group of sensory neurons that terminate in the skin. Three members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of channels are expressed in subsets of these neurons and are activated at distinct physiological temperatures. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel thermosensitive TRP channel. TRPV3 has a unique threshold: It is activated at innocuous (warm) temperatures and shows an increased response at noxious temperatures. TRPV3 is specifically expressed in keratinocytes; hence, skin cells are capable of detecting heat via molecules similar to those in heat-sensing neurons.