TRP通道在生物体对机械性刺激响应中的功能及作用机制

Molecular mechanisms of TRP channels in mechano-sensory transduction

TRP超家族离子通道在多种感觉传导,特别是听觉、触觉、机械性痛等机械性感觉过程中起着重要的作用。一些主要的离子通道性疾病,如失聪、慢性痛、ADPKD和心室肥大等的病因与TRP通道功能异常相关[1,2]。TRP通道是机械敏感通道的热门候选者,有些TRP通道,如C.elegans中TRPN亚型通道TRP-4,能够作用受体直接被机械力激活;而有些TRP通道则可能起着信号调节器的作用,间接地接收和放大信号[3]。文中介绍了TRP通道在机械性感觉传导中的功能,并讨论了其潜在的分子机制。

Channels from the TRP superfamily have essential roles in a wide variety of sensory transductions,especially in mechano-sensation,such as hearing,touch and mechanical pain.TRP channels are also implicated in major channelopathies,including deafness,chronic pain,autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease（ADPKD） and ventricular hypertrophy.As the leading candidates for mechano-sensitive channels,some TRP channels appear to be mechano-receptor,which can be activated by mechanical forces directly,such as C.elegans TRPN homolog TRP-4;whereas others may act as signal modulators,receiving and amplifying signals indirectly.This review is to introduce the function of TRPs in mechano-sensory transduction and to discuss the underling molecular mechanisms.