Which ion channel is identified as a key component in converting noxious thermal energy (heat) into an electrical signal sent toward the CNS?
Answer
Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)
The TRPV1 channel is instrumental in the transduction of noxious heat stimuli. Its activation at peripheral nerve endings results in the generation of an electrical signal carried toward the central nervous system.
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