Protein kinase C‐mediated phosphorylation of transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 Thr738 counteracts the effect of cytosolic Ca(2+) and elevates the temperature threshold

ABSTRACT: The transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 (TRPM2) channel is a non‐selective cation channel that has high Ca(2+) permeability. TRPM2 is sensitive to warm temperatures and is expressed in cells and tissues that are maintained at core body temperature. TRPM2 activity is also regulated by endogenous factors including redox signalling, cytosolic Ca(2+) and adenosine diphosphate ribose. As a result of its wide expression and function at core body temperature, these endogenous factors could regulate TRPM2 activity at body temperature under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. We previously reported that cellular redox signalling can lower TRPM2 temperature thresholds, although the mechanism that regulates these thresholds is unclear. Here, we used biochemical and electrophysiological techniques to explore another regulatory mechanism for TRPM2 temperature thresholds that is mediated by TRPM2 phosphorylation. Our results show that: (1) the temperature threshold for TRPM2 activation is lowered by cytosolic Ca(2+); (2) protein kinase C‐mediated phosphorylation of TRPM2 counteracts the effect of cytosolic Ca(2+); and (3) Thr738 in mouse TRPM2 that lies near the Ca(2+) binding site in the cytosolic cleft of the transmembrane domain is a potential phosphorylation site that may be involved in phosphorylation‐mediated elevation of TRPM2 thresholds. These findings provide structure‐based evidence to understand how temperature thresholds of thermo‐sensitive TRP channels (thermo‐TRPs) are determined and regulated. [Image: see text] KEY POINTS: The transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 (TRPM2) ion channel is temperature‐sensitive and Ca(2+)‐permeable. Endogenous factors and pathways such as redox signalling can regulate TRPM2 activity at body temperature under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In the present study, we report the novel finding that cytosolic Ca(2+) lowers the temperature threshold for TRPM2 activation in a concentration‐dependent manner. Protein kinase C‐mediated phosphorylation of TRPM2 at amino acid Thr782 elevates the temperature threshold for activation by counteracting the effects of cytosolic Ca(2+). These findings provide structure‐based evidence to understand how temperature thresholds of thermo‐sensitive TRP channels are determined and regulated.