Mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) channels mediate Ca²⁺ flux and voltage changes across membranes in response to environmental and cellular signals. At the plasma membrane, sensory TRPs act as neuronal detectors of physical and chemical environmental signals, and receptor-operated (metabotropic) TRPs decode extracellular neuroendocrine cues to control body homeostasis. In intracellular membranes, such as those in lysosomes, organellar TRPs respond to compartment-derived signals to control membrane trafficking, signal transduction, and organelle function. Complementing mouse and human genetics and high-resolution structural approaches, physiological studies employing natural agonists and synthetic inhibitors have become critical in resolving the in vivo functions of metabotropic, sensory, and organellar TRPs.

哺乳动物瞬时受体电位（TRP）通道介导Ca ²⁺响应于环境和细胞信号，膜上的通量和电压发生变化。在质膜上，感觉性TRP充当物理和化学环境信号的神经元检测器，而受体操纵的（代谢性）TRP解码细胞外神经内分泌线索以控制体内稳态。在细胞内膜（如溶酶体中的膜）中，细胞器TRP响应隔室衍生的信号以控制膜运输，信号转导和细胞器功能。作为对小鼠和人类遗传学及高分辨率结构方法的补充，采用天然激动剂和合成抑制剂的生理研究已成为解决代谢型，感觉型和器官型TRP体内功能的关键。