Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP , TRPM , TRPM8

Title: TRP channel-associated factors are a novel protein family that regulates TRPM8 trafficking and activity.

Authors: Dimitra Gkika, Loic Lemonnier, George Shapovalov, Dmitri Gordienko, Céline Poux, Michela Bernardini, Alexandre Bokhobza, Gabriel Bidaux, Cindy Degerny, Kathye Verreman, Basma Guarmit, Mohamed Benahmed, Yvan de Launoit, René J M Bindels, Alessandra Fiorio Pla, Natalia Prevarskaya

Journal, date & volume: J. Cell Biol., 2015 Jan 5 , 208, 89-107

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25559186

Abstract
TRPM8 is a cold sensor that is highly expressed in the prostate as well as in other non-temperature-sensing organs, and is regulated by downstream receptor-activated signaling pathways. However, little is known about the intracellular proteins necessary for channel function. Here, we identify two previously unknown proteins, which we have named "TRP channel-associated factors" (TCAFs), as new TRPM8 partner proteins, and we demonstrate that they are necessary for channel function. TCAF1 and TCAF2 both bind to the TRPM8 channel and promote its trafficking to the cell surface. However, they exert opposing effects on TRPM8 gating properties. Functional interaction of TCAF1/TRPM8 also leads to a reduction in both the speed and directionality of migration of prostate cancer cells, which is consistent with an observed loss of expression of TCAF1 in metastatic human specimens, whereas TCAF2 promotes migration. The identification of TCAFs introduces a novel mechanism for modulation of TRPM8 channel activity.