Modulators of Transient Receptor Potential Channels (TRPs)

Transient Potential Receptors Channels (TRPs) are in the forefront of the sensory system and integrate thermosensation, the regulation of vascular tone, nociception and pain. These channels also play a main role under certain pathological conditions, such as inflammation and different cancers, and therefore they are being validated as attractive targets for therapeutic intervention.

We are particularly interested in the search for modulators of the thermoreceptors TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPA1, following concepts of diversity-oriented synthesis and molecular modeling approaches. We aim at discovering new chemical entities (peptides and small molecules) able either to block ion channel pores, or to interfere within the endogenous ligand binding sites, or to selectively modulate protein-protein interactions implicated in the regulation, expression and traffic of these ion channels.