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The how and why of identifying the hair cell mechano-electrical transduction channel

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Abstract

Identification of the auditory hair cell mechano-electrical transduction (hcMET) channel has been a major focus in the hearing research field since the 1980s when direct mechanical gating of a transduction channel was proposed (Corey and Hudspeth J Neurosci 3:962–976, 1983). To this day, the molecular identity of this channel remains controversial. However, many of the hcMET channel’s properties have been characterized, including pore properties, calcium-dependent ion permeability, rectification, and single channel conductance. At this point, elucidating the molecular identity of the hcMET channel will provide new tools for understanding the mechanotransduction process. This review discusses the significance of identifying the hcMET channel, the difficulties associated with that task, as well as the establishment of clear criteria for this identification. Finally, we discuss potential candidate channels in light of these criteria.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by DAAD (German academic exchange service) to T.E., by the NSF-GRFP to A.L.S., and by RO1 DC003896 from NIDCD to A.J.R.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Thomas Effertz, Alexandra L. Scharr & Anthony J. Ricci

  2. Neurosciences Graduation Program, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Alexandra L. Scharr

  3. Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Anthony J. Ricci

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  1. Thomas Effertz
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  2. Alexandra L. Scharr
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  3. Anthony J. Ricci
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Correspondence to Anthony J. Ricci.

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Effertz, T., Scharr, A.L. & Ricci, A.J. The how and why of identifying the hair cell mechano-electrical transduction channel. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 467, 73–84 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-014-1606-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-014-1606-z

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