TRPM2 Ca2+ permeable cation channels: from gene to biological function.

TRPM2 is a recently identified TRPM family cation channel which is unique among known ion channels in that it contains a C-terminal domain which is homologous to the NUDT9 ADP-ribose hydrolase and possesses intrinsic ADP-ribose hydrolase activity. Here, available information on the TRPM2 gene, transcripts, predicted protein products, and assembled multimeric channels is comprehensively reviewed and synthesized to highlight important areas for future work and provide insight into potential biological function(s) of TRPM2 channels.