title: Hearing molecules, mechanism and transportation: modeled in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Mechanosensory transduction underlies the perception of touch, sound and acceleration. The mechanical signals exist in the environment are resensed by the specialized mechanosensory cells, which convert the external forces into the electrical signals. Hearing is a magnificent example that relies on the mechanotransduction mediated by the auditory cells, for example the inner-ear hair cells in vertebrates and the Johnston's organ (JO) in fly. Previous studies have shown the fundamental physiological processes in the fly and vertebrate auditory organs are similar, suggesting that there might be a set of similar molecules underlying these processes. The molecular studies of the fly JO have been shown to be remarkably successful in discovering the developmental and functional genes that provided further implications in vertebrates. Several evolutionarily conserved molecules and signaling pathways have been shown to govern the development of the auditory organs in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The current review describes the similarities and differences between the vertebrate and fly auditory organs at developmental, structural, molecular, and transportation levels.
authors: Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Orissa, India.
authors: Naveen Prakash
authors: NP
authors: Bokolia
authors: Monalisa
authors: M
authors: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Johnston's organ; antennae; basal body; ciliated organ; intraflagellar transport; mechanoelectrical transduction channel; mechanosensory neurons; scolopidia; stereocilia; vertebrate inner ear