TRPC6
Description
The TRPC6 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member 6) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
TRPC6 is a human gene encoding a protein of the same name, belonging to the transient receptor potential channel family. It's a non-selective cation channel directly activated by diacylglycerol (DAG), a product of phospholipase C activity. This activation leads to cellular depolarization and calcium influx. Unlike closely related TRPC3 channels, TRPC6 channels can transport heavy metal ions, particularly zinc, facilitating its accumulation within cells. Despite its non-selectivity, TRPC6 exhibits a strong preference for calcium ions, with a permeability ratio of calcium to sodium (PCa/PNa) of roughly six. This is significantly higher than TRPC3, which displays a weaker preference for calcium with a (PCa/PNa) ratio of only 1.1. TRPC6 channels are widely distributed in the human body and play a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions. One example is the regulation of myogenic tone in small arteries and arterioles, which allows them to maintain stable blood flow despite fluctuations in intravascular pressure.
TRPC6 is thought to form a receptor-activated, non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel. Its activation likely involves a phosphatidylinositol second messenger system triggered by receptor tyrosine kinases or G-protein coupled receptors. Diacylglycerol (DAG) activates TRPC6 directly in a membrane-delimited manner, independently of protein kinase C. Interestingly, TRPC6 does not appear to be activated by depletion of intracellular calcium stores.
TRPC6 is also known as FSGS2, TRP6.
