Accurate sensing of the environmental temperature is crucial for the survival and wellbeing of organisms. In vertebrates, the cold- and menthol-activated ion channel TRPM8 acts as the prime molecular sensor of cool temperatures. By comparing TRPM8 in vertebrates with different habitat temperatures, from elephants to penguins, Yang et al. identify key residues within the pore domain that determine the channel’s cold sensitivity. Strikingly, mice engineered to express penguin TRPM8 show a remarkable tolerance to cold.

中文翻译：

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为什么帝王企鹅在大象发抖的地方统治。

准确感测环境温度对于生物的生存和福祉至关重要。在脊椎动物中，冷和薄荷醇激活的离子通道TRPM8充当低温的主要分子传感器。通过比较在不同栖息地温度的脊椎动物（从大象到企鹅）中的TRPM8，Yang等人。确定孔域内决定通道冷敏感性的关键残基。令人惊讶的是，经过工程改造以表达企鹅TRPM8的小鼠表现出了出色的耐寒性。