Physiology and biosensors for diabetology, University of Bordeaux, Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nano-objects, CBMN, UMR CNRS 5248, France
Dr. Matthieu Raoux
Physiology and biosensors for diabetology, University of Bordeaux, Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nano-objects, CBMN, UMR CNRS 5248, France
TRPP2 is a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels, which is mutated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). TRPP2 is thought to function with polycystin 1—a large integral protein—as part of a multiprotein complex involved in transducing Ca2+‐dependent information. TRPP2 has been implicated in various biological functions including cell proliferation, sperm fertilization, mating behaviour, mechanosensation and asymmetric gene expression. Although its function as a Ca2+‐permeable cation channel is well established, its precise role in the plasma membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum and the cilium is controversial. Recent studies suggest that TRPP2 function is highly dependent on the subcellular compartment of expression, and is regulated by many interactions with adaptor proteins. This review summarizes the most pertinent evidence about the properties of TRPP2 channels, focusing on the compartment‐specific functions of mammalian TRPP2.
1 October 2004 in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Electrical signals are fundamental to key biological events such as brain activity, heartbeat, or vital hormone secretion. Their capture and analysis provide insight into cell or organ physiology and a number of bioelectronic medical devices aim to improve signal acquisition. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) have proven their capacity to capture neuronal and cardiac signals with high fidelity and amplification. Vertical PEDOT:PSS‐based OECTs (vOECTs) further enhance signal amplification and device density but have not been characterized in biological applications. An electronic board with individually tuneable transistor biases overcomes fabrication induced heterogeneity in device metrics and allows quantitative biological experiments. Careful exploration of vOECT electric parameters defines voltage biases compatible with reliable transistor function in biological experiments and provides useful maximal transconductance values without influencing cellular signal generation or propagation. This permits successful application in monitoring micro‐organs of prime importance in diabetes, the endocrine pancreatic islets, which are known for their far smaller signal amplitudes as compared to neurons or heart cells. Moreover, vOECTs capture their single‐cell action potentials and multicellular slow potentials reflecting micro‐organ organizations as well as their modulation by the physiological stimulator glucose. This opens the possibility to use OECTs in new biomedical fields well beyond their classical applications.