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TRPC5 apo cryoEM map in the presence of pluronic acid (PA), state 2
Structural highlights
FunctionTRPC5_HUMAN Thought to form a receptor-activated non-selective calcium permeant cation channel. Probably is operated by a phosphatidylinositol second messenger system activated by receptor tyrosine kinases or G-protein coupled receptors. Has also been shown to be calcium-selective (By similarity). May also be activated by intracellular calcium store depletion. Mediates calcium-dependent phosphatidylserine externalization and apoptosis in neurons via its association with PLSCR1 (By similarity).[UniProtKB:Q9QX29][1] Publication Abstract from PubMedTRPC4/5 cation channels are polymodal cellular sensors and emerging drug targets in various human pathologies. The plant natural product (-)-englerin A (EA) is a potent, selective TRPC4/5 agonist that has transformed TRPC4/5 research. However, the structural basis of EA-mediated TRPC4/5 activation has remained elusive, limiting our ability to understand and exploit EA's pharmacology. Here, we present nine high-resolution cryo-EM structures of human TRPC5, representing different states and ligand occupancies, which show that EA occupies a conserved lipid binding site between channel subunits. Conformational changes of residues surrounding this binding site - most notably in the aromatic interaction network around Phe520 - result in rearrangement of the pore helices into a pre-open state. Our structural models are consistent with the effects of mutagenesis on EA's potency, efficacy and activation kinetics, and allow us to rationalise competitive inhibition by other TRPC4/5 modulators as well as EA's selectivity profile within the TRPC family. Our structural insights into the mode-of-action of a widely used TRPC4/5 agonist will underpin fundamental TRPC4/5 research and ongoing drug discovery programmes. (-)-Englerin A binding to human TRPC5 exposes an aromatic interaction network in channel activation.,Porav SA, Ptakova A, Bauer CC, Hammond KLR, Beech DJ, Vlachova V, Muench SP, Bon RS Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 29. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-71840-y. PMID:42056091[2] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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