Sequence similarity between stereocilin and otoancorin points to a unified mechanism for mechanotransduction in the mammalian inner ear

• Main Authors: Wassarman Paul M, Park Jong, Jovine Luca
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2002-11-01
• Series: BMC Cell Biology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2121/3/28

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interaction between hair cells and acellular gels of the mammalian inner ear, the tectorial and otoconial membranes, is crucial for mechanoreception. Recently, otoancorin was suggested to be a mediator of gel attachment to nonsensory cells, but the molecular components of the interface between gels and sensory cells remain to be identified.</p> <p>Hypothesis</p> <p>We report that the inner ear protein stereocilin is related in sequence to otoancorin and, based on its localisation and predicted GPI-anchoring, may mediate attachment of the tectorial and otoconial membranes to sensory hair bundles.</p> <p>Testing</p> <p>It is expected that antibodies directed against stereocilin would specifically label sites of contact between sensory hair cells and tectorial/otoconial membranes of the inner ear.</p> <p>Implications</p> <p>Our findings support a unified molecular mechanism for mechanotransduction, with stereocilin and otoancorin defining a new protein family responsible for the attachment of acellular gels to both sensory and nonsensory cells of the inner ear.</p>