TRP Channel Reconstitution in Lipid Bilayers

Abstract

The family of the transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins presents a diverse group of polymodal ion channels intertwined in the regulation of various physiological processes. Currently, TRP channels are well established in temperature-sensation, thermoregulation, pain sensation, and mineral homeostasis. Furthermore, new evidence suggests that TRP channels are also implicated in hormonal signaling, where the channels are responsible for propagating hormone-induced signals along the neural circuitry and also regulating cellular processes of nonexcitable cells. Due to this wide assortment of actions, TRP channels have been attracting immense scientific interest in various fields.In this chapter, I describe incorporation and characterization of several TRP channels using an electrophysiological approach known as planar lipid bilayers. This technique features measurements of functional activities of ion channels in a well-defined reconstituted system. The priority of this electrophysiological approach is identifying intrinsic properties of ion channels, which is particularly valuable in appreciating intrinsic temperature sensitivity concerning thermo-TRP channels, but also direct mechanisms of channels agonists, antagonists, cofactors, and other modifiers.