Cryo-EM Structure of the TRPC1/5 Heteromer Enables Design of Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Drug with Reduced Side Effects

Y Yixiang Chen (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) T Tong Che (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) X Xinyu Cheng (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) X Xiaoqiang Yang (Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University) X Xiaojing Song J Juncheng Li (The RNA Institute) Y Ying Fu W Wei Zhang S Sijia Lv (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) T Tingting Yang (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) Q Qi Peng (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) W Weiwei Nan (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) S Shuangyan Wan (The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) Y Yaoguang Hua X Xiaoyun Wu H Han Hu Y Yuting Zhang (Shenzhen Crystalo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.) Y Yinzhen Liu M Mingxing Yang S Shuqi Zeng O Ougen Liu B Bo Yu J Jingjing Duan (Sphingolipid Metabolism and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Aging and Disease, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) J Jian Li B Bing Xiong J Jin Zhang

Abstract

Abstract The TRPC1/5 heteromer exhibits electrophysiological and ligand-binding properties distinct from TRPC5 homomers, enabling tissue-specific cellular regulation. Here we present the cryo-EM structure of the TRPC1/5 heterotetramer at 2.8 Å resolution, revealing an asymmetric assembly of three TRPC5 subunits around one TRPC1 subunit. TRPC1 contributes a unique pore-loop configuration and specialized inter-subunit interfaces that sculpt an asymmetrical ion conduction pathway, altering gating and ion selectivity. The heteromer harbors a ligand-binding pocket at the TRPC1-TRPC5 interface absent in homomeric channels. Using this insight, we design JD03-02, a high-affinity antagonist preferentially targeting this pocket with >10,000-fold selectivity for TRPC1/5 over TRPC5 homomers. In mouse models, JD03-02 produces potent anxiolytic and antidepressant effects with reduced off-target activity. These findings elucidate the structural basis of TRPC1/5 function and can guide precision drug design targeting heteromeric ion channels in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published May 23, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (26)

Y

Yixiang Chen

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

T

Tong Che

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

X

Xinyu Cheng

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

X

Xiaoqiang Yang

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University

X

Xiaojing Song

J

Juncheng Li

The RNA Institute

Y

Ying Fu

W

Wei Zhang

S

Sijia Lv

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

T

Tingting Yang

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Q

Qi Peng

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

W

Weiwei Nan

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

S

Shuangyan Wan

The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Y

Yaoguang Hua

X

Xiaoyun Wu

H

Han Hu

Y

Yuting Zhang

Shenzhen Crystalo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Y

Yinzhen Liu

M

Mingxing Yang

S

Shuqi Zeng

O

Ougen Liu

B

Bo Yu

J

Jingjing Duan

Sphingolipid Metabolism and Aging, Human Aging Research Institute (HARI) and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Aging and Disease, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

J

Jian Li

B

Bing Xiong

J

Jin Zhang