Receptor-activated non-selective cation channel involved in detection of pain sensation due to high temperature. Involved in heat nociception by being activated by noxious temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. Present in multidendritic neurons, chordotonal neurons, a subset of cells in the central nervous system and a subset of sensory neurons in the antennal-maxillary complex. Not detected in gonads and dorsal vessels (at protein level). Expressed in peripheral neurons that extend multiple branched dendrites beneath the larval epidermis, similar to vertebrate pain receptors. Expressed from stage 13 of embryonic development in a small number of cells in the central nervous system and in a subset of neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Such cells may include sensory precursors of multidendritic (md) neurons. At embryonic stage 16, prior to when dendritic process are elaborated, it appears to be expressed in multidendritic neurons in a polarized manner. At stage 17 of development, when the md neurons first initiate dendritogenesis, it is localized to branched projections initiating from clusters of multidendritic neurons. Belongs to the transient receptor (TC 1.A.4) family.