Rethinking how hearing happens.
Inner ear hair cells convert hair bundle deflection into mechanical force sensed by ion channels via extracellular tip links between adjacent stereocilia. In this Neuron issue, Grillet and colleagues show the protein harmonin mechanically reinforces tip link upper insertion sites. Harmonin loss at this site reduces mechanotransduction kinetics and sensitivity.
Xu
Zhigang
Z
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Ricci
Anthony J
AJ
Heller
Stefan
S
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000502:physiology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C118970:USH1C protein, human