TRPA1 is a Ca2+-permeable, non-selective cation channel and one of the key pain sensors in mammals. It has emerged as a novel target for analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents. Pain sensation mediated by TRPA1 involves modification of N-terminal cysteine residues on the channel by thiol-reactive compounds and inflammatory mediators. Binding of thiol-reactive compounds to the channel in the resting state leads to channel activation followed rapidly by desensitization. While channel activity has been studied extensively by electrophysiological methods, little is known about the structural mechanisms of channel activation and desensitization. Additionally, two compounds that directly inhibit TRPA1 are in pre-clinical trials, and understanding the mechanism of TRPA1 inhibition by these compounds will be important for advancing our knowledge of the structural differences between functionally relevant TRPA1 conformations. Using cryo-EM, site-directed mutagenesis, limited proteolysis, and mass spectrometry, in this grant we aim to establish a detailed structural understanding of the mechanisms of TRPA1 channel activation, desensitization and inhibition, which will help facilitate rational design of novel analgesics. !

Public Health Relevance

Pain, while serving the beneficial function of provoking our attention to dangerous situations, is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. TRPA1 is a Ca2+-permeable, non-selective cation channel and one of the key pain sensors in mammals. This proposal focuses on establishing a detailed structural understanding of the mechanisms of TRPA1 channel activation, desensitization and inhibition, which will help facilitate rational design of novel analgesics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM103899-01A1
Application #
8575223
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2013-08-01
Project End
2018-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$301,150
Indirect Cost
$111,150
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
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Samanta, Amrita; Kiselar, Janna; Pumroy, Ruth A et al. (2018) Structural insights into the molecular mechanism of mouse TRPA1 activation and inhibition. J Gen Physiol 150:751-762
Basak, Sandip; Gicheru, Yvonne; Samanta, Amrita et al. (2018) Cryo-EM structure of 5-HT3A receptor in its resting conformation. Nat Commun 9:514
Arne, Jason M; Widjaja-Adhi, Made Airanthi K; Hughes, Taylor et al. (2017) Allosteric modulation of the substrate specificity of acyl-CoA wax alcohol acyltransferase 2. J Lipid Res 58:719-730
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Cohen, Matthew R; Johnson, William M; Pilat, Jennifer M et al. (2015) Nerve Growth Factor Regulates Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 2 via Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling To Enhance Neurite Outgrowth in Developing Neurons. Mol Cell Biol 35:4238-52
Cohen, Matthew R; Moiseenkova-Bell, Vera Y (2014) Structure of thermally activated TRP channels. Curr Top Membr 74:181-211
Huynh, Kevin W; Cohen, Matthew R; Moiseenkova-Bell, Vera Y (2014) Application of amphipols for structure-functional analysis of TRP channels. J Membr Biol 247:843-51

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