Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2024
Original Citation
Hartig E,
Day M,
Jarysta A,
Tarchini B.
Proteins required for stereocilia elongation during mammalian hair cell development ensure precise and steady heights during adult life. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024;121(40):e2405455121
Keywords
JMG, Animals, Stereocilia, Mice, Hair Cells, Auditory, Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner, Hearing
JAX Source
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024;121(40):e2405455121
ISSN
1091-6490
PMID
39320919
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2405455121
Grant
.H. was supported by NIH NRSAs T32 HD007065, T32 AG062409, and F31 DC020345. A.J. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Fondation Pour l’Audition (2018-2020; FPA RD-2018-3). This work was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Grants R01 DC015242 and DC018304 (to B.T.
Abstract
Mammalian auditory hair cells (HCs) are not naturally regenerative and must preserve their elaborate structure to ensure lifelong hearing. Stereocilia, the actin-based projections at the HC surface that detect sound vibration, are particularly vulnerable to damage incurred from noise and aging. We show that the tip-localized protein module GPSM2–GNAI required for stereocilia development is also involved in stereocilia maintenance in mature cells. Inactivating Gpsm2 in adult mouse HCs results in low-frequency hearing deficits and stereocilia height reduction proportional to the region reported to turn over actin at the distal tip. Molecular insight into how actin exchange ensures stable height in mature stereocilia will help clarify whether insults during life shift this balance and compromise auditory function.
Creative Commons License
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