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Ion channels

A mul-TRP-PLIK-ation of channel functions

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 2, pages 148–149 (2001)Cite this article

TRP-PLIK is a protein expressed in the brain, as well as in many other organs, including heart, kidney, liver and lung. The sequence of TRP-PLIK shows similarity to channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) type, which are involved in many processes ranging from phototransduction in Drosophila to osmosensitivity in C. elegans. Indeed, TRP-PLIK does form ion channels that are cation-selective and permeable to calcium, indicating that it might contribute to membrane depolarization and to the regulation of intracellular calcium levels.

But the carboxy-terminal region of TRP-PLIK shows similarity to the catalytic domain of a very different molecule: eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase, a member of the atypical α-kinase family. In fact, this homologous domain is functional in TRP-PLIK, as the channel can phosphorylate itself, as well as other substrates. Moreover, if the kinase activity is abolished, then TRP-PLIK currents are reduced, indicating that autophosphorylation might be required for proper channel function.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Runnels, L. W. et al. TRP-PLIK, a bifunctional protein with kinase and ion channel activities. Science, 291 1043–1047 (2001)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Harteneck, C. et al. From worm to man: three subfamilies of TRP channels. Trends Neurosci. 23, 159 –166 (2000)

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Authors
  1. Juan Carlos López
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Calcium channel diversity

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López, J. A mul-TRP-PLIK-ation of channel functions . Nat Rev Neurosci 2, 148–149 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35058540

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