the protein encoded by this gene is a non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel and is part of the transient receptor potential ion channel super family. the closest relative is the cold and menthol activated trpm8 ion channel. while trpm2 is not cold sensitive it is activated by heat. the trpm2 ion channel is activated by free intracellular adp-ribose in synergy with free intracellular calcium. adp-ribose is produced to by the enzyme parp in response to oxidative stress and confers susceptibility to cell death. several alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but their full-length nature is not known.