Expression of prestin-homologous solute carrier (SLC26) in auditory organs of nonmammalian vertebrates and insects.
Prestin, the fifth member of the anion transporter family SLC26, is the outer hair cell molecular motor thought to be responsible for active mechanical amplification in the mammalian cochlea. Active amplification is present in a variety of other auditory systems, yet the prevailing view is that prestin is a motor molecule unique to mammalian ears. Here we identify prestin-related SLC26 proteins that are expressed in the auditory organs of nonmammalian vertebrates and insects. Sequence comparisons revealed the presence of SLC26 proteins in fish (Danio, GenBank accession no. AY278118, and Anguilla, GenBank accession no. BAC16761), mosquitoes (Anopheles, GenBank accession nos. EAA07232 and EAA07052), and flies (Drosophila, GenBank accession no. AAF49285). The fly and zebrafish homologues were cloned and, by using in situ hybridization, shown to be expressed in the auditory organs. In mosquitoes, in turn, the expression of prestin homologues was demonstrated for the auditory organ by using highly specific riboprobes against rat prestin. We conclude that prestin-related SLC26 proteins are widespread, possibly ancestral, constituents of auditory organs and are likely to serve salient roles in mammals and across taxa.
Weber
Thomas
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Tübingen Hearing Research Center, Molecular Neurobiology, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Gopfert
Martin C
MC
Winter
Harald
H
Zimmermann
Ulrike
U
Kohler
Hanni
H
Meier
Alexandra
A
Hendrich
Oliver
O
Rohbock
Karin
K
Robert
Daniel
D
Knipper
Marlies
M
D000465:Algorithms; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000811:Anguilla; D000818:Animals; D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000852:Anopheles; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003051:Cochlea / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000076988:Sulfate Transporters; D015027:Zebrafish
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; C498720:Pres protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C085609:SLC26A4 protein, human; C409207:Slc26a5 protein, rat; D000076988:Sulfate Transporters