Diversity and spatial segregation of TRP channels in the closest relatives of animals.

Choanoflagellates possess diverse TRP channel families predating animals, with significant expansions in TRPM and TRPW, highlighting early sensory system evolution.

• Why it matters: Understanding the origins of sensory systems is crucial for tracing how animals evolved complex environmental responses, yet their ancestral roots remain poorly understood.
• What they did: The study analyzed the TRP channel repertoires in choanoflagellates, identifying major families like TRPA, TRPC, and TRPV, and mapped their spatial distribution within the collar complex of Salpingoeca rosetta.
• The result: Findings suggest that the expansion and spatial organization of TRP channels in unicellular ancestors laid the groundwork for the cell-type specialization seen in multicellular animals, illuminating early steps in sensory system evolution.