TRPV56

TRPV56 is a proposed member of the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) subfamily of ion channels. Based on sequence similarity to other TRP channels, TRPV56 is predicted to encode a six-transmembrane-domain cation channel with a pore loop between the fifth and sixth transmembrane segments, a topology typical of TRPV family members.

Gene and expression: The TRPV56 gene has been identified in several mammalian genome assemblies, and transcript evidence has been reported in multiple tissues from RNA sequencing studies. However, protein expression and localization have not been consistently demonstrated, and the existence of a functional channel remains unconfirmed in many annotations.

Function and physiology: Functional characterization is limited. In heterologous systems where TRPV56-like proteins have been studied, currents consistent with cation permeation and Ca2+ entry have been reported, but results are preliminary and not widely reproduced. The physiological role, gating mechanisms, and regulation are unclear; potential involvement in calcium homeostasis or sensory signaling is a hypothesis.

Pharmacology and clinical significance: No validated endogenous ligands or pharmacological modulators have been established for TRPV56. No robust disease associations are recognized, and its classification as a bona fide channel is unsettled in some databases, with some annotations listing it as a predicted or putative gene rather than a confirmed protein-coding gene.

Taxonomy and status: TRPV56 was proposed as part of ongoing efforts to catalogue TRP channels in vertebrates. Its inclusion in public databases varies by annotation, reflecting uncertainty over expression, function, and evolutionary conservation. Further experimental validation is required to confirm whether TRPV56 encodes a functional ion channel and to define its physiological role.