A molecular mechanism for electrical tuning of cochlear hair cells

被引:150
作者
Ramanathan, K
Michael, TH
Jiang, GJ
Hiel, H
Fuchs, PA [1 ]
机构
[1] Johns Hopkins Univ, Sch Med, Ctr Hearing Sci, Dept Otolaryngol Head & Neck Surg, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
[2] Johns Hopkins Univ, Sch Med, Ctr Hearing Sci, Dept Biomed Engn, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1126/science.283.5399.215
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Cochlear frequency selectivity in Lower vertebrates arises in part from electrical tuning intrinsic to the sensory hair cells. The resonant frequency is determined largely by the gating kinetics of calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels encoded by the slo gene. Alternative splicing of slo from chick cochlea generated kinetically distinct BK channels. Combination with accessory beta subunits slowed the gating kinetics of alpha splice variants but preserved relative differences between them. In situ hybridization showed that the beta subunit is preferentially expressed by low-frequency (apical) hair cells in the avian cochlea, Interaction of beta with alpha splice variants could provide the kinetic range needed for electrical tuning of cochlear hair cells.
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页码:215 / 217
页数:3
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