1. Building and repairing the stereocilia cytoskeleton in mammalian auditory hair cells.
- Author
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Vélez-Ortega, A. Catalina and Frolenkov, Gregory I.
- Subjects
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HAIR cells , *BUILDING repair , *CYTOSKELETON , *LIFE spans , *COCHLEA - Abstract
Abstract Despite all recent achievements in identification of the molecules that are essential for the structure and mechanosensory function of stereocilia bundles in the auditory hair cells of mammalian species, we still have only a rudimentary understanding of the mechanisms of stereocilia formation, maintenance, and repair. Important molecular differences distinguishing mammalian auditory hair cells from hair cells of other types and species have been recently revealed. In addition, we are beginning to solve the puzzle of the apparent life-long stability of the stereocilia bundles in these cells. New data link the stability of the cytoskeleton in the mammalian auditory stereocilia with the normal activity of mechanotransduction channels. These data suggest new ideas on how a terminally-differentiated non-regenerating hair cell in the mammalian cochlea may repair and tune its stereocilia bundle throughout the life span of the organism. Highlights • Differentially expressed proteins regulate the hair bundle staircase architecture. • The stability of the stereocilia actin core depends on intrastereocilia Ca2+ levels. • Changes in intrastereocilia Ca2+ levels may trigger signals for stereocilia repair. • Ca2+-sensitive proteins within stereocilia could be potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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