Article abstract

Nature Chemical Biology 3, 174 - 182 (2007)
Published online: 11 February 2007 | doi:10.1038/nchembio862

TRPM8 voltage sensor mutants reveal a mechanism for integrating thermal and chemical stimuli

Thomas Voets1, Grzegorz Owsianik1, Annelies Janssens1, Karel Talavera1 & Bernd Nilius1

TRPM8, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, is expressed in thermosensitive neurons, in which it functions as a cold and menthol sensor. TRPM8 and most other temperature-sensitive TRP channels (thermoTRPs) are voltage gated; temperature and ligands regulate channel opening by shifting the voltage dependence of activation. The mechanisms and structures underlying gating of thermoTRPs are currently poorly understood. Here we show that charge-neutralizing mutations in transmembrane segment 4 (S4) and the S4-S5 linker of human TRPM8 reduce the channel's gating charge, which indicates that this region is part of the voltage sensor. Mutagenesis-induced changes in voltage sensitivity translated into altered thermal sensitivity, thereby establishing the strict coupling between voltage and temperature sensing. Specific mutations in this region also affected menthol affinity, which indicates a direct interaction between menthol and the TRPM8 voltage sensor. Based on these findings, we present a Monod-Wyman-Changeux–type model explaining the combined effects of voltage, temperature and menthol on TRPM8 gating.

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  1. Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, Division of Physiology, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N1, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 bus 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Correspondence to: Thomas Voets1 e-mail: thomas.voets@med.kuleuven.be



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