Busch Tilman, Köttgen Michael, Hofherr Alexis
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Cell Calcium. 2017 Sep;66:25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.05.005. Epub 2017 Jun 1.
Ion channels control the membrane potential and mediate transport of ions across membranes. Archetypical physiological functions of ion channels include processes such as regulation of neuronal excitability, muscle contraction, or transepithelial ion transport. In that regard, transient receptor potential ion channel polycystin 2 (TRPP2) is remarkable, because it controls complex morphogenetic processes such as the establishment of properly shaped epithelial tubules and left-right-asymmetry of organs. The fascinating question of how an ion channel regulates morphogenesis has since captivated the attention of scientists in different disciplines. Four loosely connected key insights on different levels of biological complexity ranging from protein to whole organism have framed our understanding of TRPP2 physiology: 1) TRPP2 is a non-selective cation channel; 2) TRPP2 is part of a receptor-ion channel complex; 3) TRPP2 localizes to primary cilia; and 4) TRPP2 is required for organ morphogenesis. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge in these key areas and highlight some of the challenges ahead.
离子通道控制膜电位并介导离子跨膜运输。离子通道的典型生理功能包括调节神经元兴奋性、肌肉收缩或跨上皮离子运输等过程。在这方面，瞬时受体电位离子通道多囊蛋白2（TRPP2）很引人注目，因为它控制着复杂的形态发生过程，如形状合适的上皮小管的形成以及器官的左右不对称。从那时起，离子通道如何调节形态发生这个引人入胜的问题就吸引了不同学科科学家的关注。在从蛋白质到整个生物体的不同生物复杂性水平上，有四个联系松散的关键见解构建了我们对TRPP2生理学的理解：1）TRPP2是一种非选择性阳离子通道；2）TRPP2是受体 - 离子通道复合物的一部分；3）TRPP2定位于初级纤毛；4）TRPP2是器官形态发生所必需的。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论这些关键领域的当前知识，并突出一些未来面临的挑战。
