Math1: an essential gene for the generation of inner ear hair cells.
The mammalian inner ear contains the cochlea and vestibular organs, which are responsible for hearing and balance, respectively. The epithelia of these sensory organs contain hair cells that function as mechanoreceptors to transduce sound and head motion. The molecular mechanisms underlying hair cell development and differentiation are poorly understood. Math1, a mouse homolog of the Drosophila proneural gene atonal, is expressed in inner ear sensory epithelia. Embryonic Math1-null mice failed to generate cochlear and vestibular hair cells. This gene is thus required for the genesis of hair cells.
Bermingham
N A
NA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Hassan
B A
BA
Price
S D
SD
Vollrath
M A
MA
Ben-Arie
N
N
Eatock
R A
RA
Bellen
H J
HJ
Lysakowski
A
A
Zoghbi
H Y
HY
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003051:Cochlea / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018390:Gene Targeting; D020043:Genes, Essential; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D064032:Calbindin 2; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D014157:Transcription Factors; C500943:Atoh1 protein, mouse; C089785:myosin VI