Structure and mechanism of activation of the mechanosensitive ion channel TACAN

我们建议确定TACAN的结构和激活机制，TACAN是一种最近发现的离子通道，定义了一种新的和未表征的通道。TACAN特别参与感知机械性疼痛，并在疼痛受体类型的神经元中产生机械敏感电流。我们的研究将增加对这类新型蛋白质的认识，这将有助于未来开发包括关节炎在内的几种慢性疼痛疾病的治疗方法。

We propose to determine the structure and mechanism of activation of TACAN, a recently identified ion channel that defines a novel and uncharacterised class of channels. TACAN is specifically involved in sensing mechanical pain and contributes to mechanosensitive currents in the pain-receptor type of neurons. Our studies will increase knowledge of this novel class of proteins that will allow for the future development of treatments for several chronic pain conditions including arthritis.