Hyperforin--a key constituent of St. John's wort specifically activates TRPC6 channels.

Hyperforin, a bicyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivative, is the main active principle of St. John's wort extract responsible for its antidepressive profile. Hyperforin inhibits the neuronal serotonin and norepinephrine uptake comparable to synthetic antidepressants.

Receptor-induced activation of Drosophila TRP gamma by polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Cellular calcium homeostasis is regulated by hormones and neurotransmitters, resulting in the activation of a variety of proteins, in particular, channel proteins of the plasma membrane and of intracellular compartments. Such channels are, for example, TRP channels of the TRPC protein family that are activated by various mediators from receptor-stimulated signaling cascades. In Drosophila, two TRPC channels, TRP and TRPL, are involved in phototransduction.

Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger overexpression predisposes to reactive oxygen species-induced injury.

Objective: In heart failure (HF), the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is enhanced. It was shown that failing cardiac myocytes are more susceptible to ROS-induced damage, possibly due to increased expression of the sarcolemmal Na-Ca exchanger (NCX).

Methods: We investigated the consequences of increased expression levels of NCX in adult rabbit ventricular cardiomyocytes (via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, Ad-NCX1-GFP) with respect to tolerance towards ROS.

Differential effects of stretch and compression on membrane currents and [Na+]c in ventricular myocytes.

Mechano-electrical feedback was studied in the single ventricular myocytes. A small fraction (approximately 10%) of the cell surface could be stretched or compressed by a glass stylus. Stretch depolarised, shortened the action potential and induced extra systoles.