Phylogenetic analysis and expression of zebrafish transient receptor potential melastatin family genes

<jats:p><jats:styled-content>Background</jats:styled-content>: The transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) gene family belongs to the superfamily of nonselective TRP ion channels. TRP channels are cellular sensors, detecting a multitude of inputs, including temperature, light, chemical, and mechanical stimuli. Recent studies revealed diverse roles during development, linking TRP channels to differentiation, proliferation, cell motility, cell death, and survival. A detailed description of this gene family in the zebrafish is still missing. <jats:styled-content>Results:</jats:styled-content> Phylogenetic analysis revealed 11 <jats:italic>trpm</jats:italic> genes in the zebrafish genome. The zebrafish orthologs of mammalian TRPM1 and TRPM4 are duplicated and quadruplicated, respectively, and TRPM8, a cold sensitive channel has been lost in zebrafish. Whole‐mount in situ hybridization experiments revealed dynamic expression pattern of <jats:italic>trpm</jats:italic> genes in the developing embryo and early larva. Transcripts were mainly found in neural cell clusters, but also in tissues involved in ion homeostasis. <jats:styled-content>Conclusions:</jats:styled-content> Our results suggest a role of TRPM channels in sensory information processing, including vision, olfaction, taste, and mechanosensation. An involvement in developmental processes is likely, as some <jats:italic>trpm</jats:italic> genes were found to be expressed in differentiating cells. Our data now provide a basis for functional analyses of this gene family of ion channels in the vertebrate model organism <jats:italic>Danio rerio</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>Developmental Dynamics 242:1236–1249, 2013</jats:italic>. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</jats:p>