TRPC is a family of transient receptor potential cation channels in animals.
TRPC channels form the subfamily of channels in humans most closely related to drosophila TRP channels. Structurally, members of this family possess a number of similar characteristics, including 3 or 4 ankyrin repeats near the N-terminus and a TRP box motif containing the invariant EWKFAR sequence at the proximal C-terminus. These channels are non-selectively permeable to cations, with a prevalence of calcium over sodium variable among the different members. Many of TRPC channel subunits are able to coassemble.[1] The predominant TRPC channels in the mammalian brain are the TRPC 1,4 and 5 and they are densely expressed in corticolimbic brain regions, like the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and lateral septum.[2][3] These 3 channels are activated by the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 agonist dihydroxyphenylglycine.[2]
In general, TRPC channels can be activated by phospholipase C stimulation, with some members also activated by diacylglycerol. There is at least one report that TRPC1 is also activated by stretching of the membrane and TRPC5 channels are activated by extracellular reduced thioredoxin.[4]
It has long been proposed that TRPC channels underlie the calcium release activated channels observed in many cell types.[5] These channels open due to the depletion of intracellular calcium stores. Two other proteins, stromal interaction molecules (STIMs) and Orais, however, have more recently been implicated in this process. STIM1 and TRPC1 can coassemble, complicating the understanding of this phenomenon.[1]
TRPC6 has been implicated in late onset Alzheimer's disease.[6]
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