TRPA1 is an excitatory ion channel that belongs to the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily.  A key role of the channel is in pain perception.  It is believed to be involved in the transduction machinery through which volatile external irritants and endogenous inflammatory mediators depolarize nociceptors to elicit pain.  TRPA1 has also been speculated to be engaged in cold nociception and inner ear function.

The gene has been implicated in familial episodic pain syndrome, a disorder characterized by debilitating upper body pain brought on by triggers such as cold, fasting or physical stress.  Other symptoms include breathing difficulties, tachycardia, peribuccal cyanosis, and stiffness of the abdominal wall.  Recent studies have also linked the gene to cardiovascular disease and changes in blood pressure. 

The approximately 70 kb long TRPA1 gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 8.  The coding region of the gene consists of 29 exons.  It encodes a protein product that is made up of 1119 amino acids and is about 127 kDA in size.  Familial episodic pain syndrome is caused by a heterozygous c.2564A>G transition in exon 22 of the gene resulting in a p.Asn855Ser substitution in the S4 transmembrane segment of the TRPA1 protein.