Capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient in hot chili peppers, elicits a sensation of burning pain by selectively activating sensory neurons that convey information about noxious stimuli to the central nervous system. The protein encoded by this gene is a receptor for capsaicin and is a non-selective cation channel that is structurally related to members of the TRP family of ion channels. This receptor is also activated by increases in temperature in the noxious range, suggesting that it functions as a transducer of painful thermal stimuli in vivo. Four transcript variants encoding the same protein, but with different 5' UTR sequence, have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

TRPV1: a receptor for capsaicin and a non-selective cation channel that is structurally related to members of the TRP family of ion channels. Activated by increases in temperature in the noxious range, suggesting that it functions as a transducer of painful thermal stimuli in vivo.

Protein type: Membrane protein, integral; Membrane protein, multi-pass; Receptor, misc.; Channel, cation

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 17p13.2

Cellular Component: postsynaptic membrane; integral to plasma membrane; integral to membrane; plasma membrane; cell junction; intrinsic to plasma membrane

Molecular Function: calmodulin binding; transmembrane receptor activity; excitatory extracellular ligand-gated ion channel activity; calcium-release channel activity; calcium channel activity; phosphoprotein binding; ATP binding

Biological Process: cell surface receptor linked signal transduction; transport; chemosensory behavior; thermoception; transmembrane transport