title: Role of nonlinear localized Ca(2+) pulses along microtubules in tuning the mechano-sensitivity of hair cells.
abstract: This paper aims to provide an overview of the polyelectrolyte model and the current understanding of the creation and propagation of localized pulses of positive ions flowing along cellular microtubules. In that context, Ca(2+) ions may move freely on the surface of microtubule along the protofilament axis, thus leading to signal transport. Special emphasis in this paper is placed on the possible role of this mechanism in the function of microtubule based kinocilium, a component of vestibular hair cells of the inner ear. We discuss how localized pulses of Ca(2+) ions play a crucial role in tuning the activity of dynein motors, which are involved in mechano-sensitivity of the kinocilium. A prevailing notion holds that the concentration of Ca(2+) ions around the microtubules within the kinocilium represents the control parameter for Hopf bifurcation. Therefore, a key feature of this mechanism is that the velocities of these Ca(2+) pulses be sufficiently high to exert control at acoustic frequencies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 6, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miljko V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Sataric
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 6, Novi Sad, Serbia. Electronic address: dalsek@uns.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Dalibor L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sekulic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 6, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Bogdan M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sataric
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Postanski fah 522, Serbia.
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zdravkovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism; D003051:Cochlea; D004398:Dyneins / Q000502:physiology; D004573:Electrolytes; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009991:Oscillometry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry; D014714:Vertebrates
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D007477:Ions; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D004398:Dyneins; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium ions; Hair cells; Microtubule; Nonlinear ionic pulse; Polyelectrolyte