Chemical probes to study TRPC5 channel regulation in adipocytes

The protein TRPC5 forms homo- and heterotetrameric cation channels that play key roles in cellular signalling and responses to chemical and physical environmental factors, and its implication in human disease (including anxiety disorders, kidney disease and obesity) has resulted in TRPC5 channels emerging as potential therapeutic targets. TRPC5 is expressed in human perivascular fat and adipocyte TRPC5 channels act as sensors of dietary fatty acids.

This interdisciplinary project focusses on the development of chemical tools to probe TRPC5 channels in adipocytes, which will allow the study of the expression, localisation, function and interactions of TRPC5 in different depots of mouse adipose tissues at various stages of adipocyte differentiation.