Silencing the cochlear amplifier by immobilizing prestin.
Achieving the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the mammalian ear requires active amplification of input sound. In this issue of Neuron, Dallos and colleagues demonstrate that the molecular motor prestin, which drives shape changes in the soma of mechanosensory hair cells, underlies mechanical feedback mechanisms for sound amplification in mammals.
Müller
Ulrich
U
Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. umueller@scripps.edu
Gillespie
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; C498720:Pres protein, mouse