TRP Channels and Pain: From Physiology to Atomic Structure

Pungent irritants from pepper, mint, and mustard plants have served as powerful pharmacological probes for identifying molecules, cells, and circuits that contribute to somatosensation and pain. These natural products elicit pain by targeting members of the TRP ion channel family, identifying these proteins as key detectors of noxious stimuli and potential targets for analgesic drugs. TRP channels are complex signaling machines whose biophysical and pharmacological properties are now being revealed at the atomic level, providing important new insights into their mechanisms of action and regulation.