Internal friction as possible key factor governing the thermosensitivity of TRP channels

Abstract: Six thermo-activated transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are the molecular basis of the thermosensation for mammals. But the molecular source of their gating remains unknown. In the Letter, we suggest a physically based model for the TRP channels and show that the temperature dependence of the "internal friction" can be a key factor governing the ion channels gating. Results of the computer modeling allowed us to successfully reproduce the experimental data for the open probability Popen of the TRPV1 and TRPM8 channels at different temperatures and voltages.