Functional roles of TRPC channels in the developing brain.

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are Ca(2+)-permeable, nonselective cation channels formed by homomeric or heteromeric complexes of TRPC proteins that contain six transmembrane domains. These channels can be activated through a phospholipase-C-dependent mechanism, making them sensors for environmental cues. Their expression begins early in embryonic days and remains in adulthood. These channels have important roles in the processes of neuronal development, including neural stem cell proliferation, cerebellar granule cell survival, axon path finding, neuronal morphogenesis, and synaptogenesis. In this review, we will discuss functional implications of TRPC channels during brain development.