PBIO SEMINAR SERIES

Structural insights into the function of TRPV ion channels

Wednesday - May 28, 2008
07-08 SEMINAR SERIES

Rachelle Gaudet
Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology Harvard University
Speaker's website

Host: Sharona E. Gordon

TRPV channels play key roles in sensing the environment and calcium homeostasis. We have determined the structure of the ankyrin repeats of several TRPV channels, including TRPV1. TRPV1 is activated by noxious stimuli like heat and capsaicin, leading to a burning pain sensation. We identified a ligand-binding site in the N-terminal ankyrin repeat domain of TRPV1 that binds ATP to sensitize the channel or calcium-calmodulin for calcium-mediated TRPV1 desensitization. These findings contribute to a model for the calcium-dependent regulation of TRPV1 sensitivity. We are pursuing experiments to determine whether this regulatory ligand-binding site is conserved in other TRPV proteins.