ZFIN Publication: Sidi et al., 2003

ZFIN ID: ZDB-PUB-030715-6

ZFIN ID: ZDB-PUB-030715-6

NompC TRP channel required for vertebrate sensory hair cell mechanotransduction

Sidi, S., Friedrich, R.W., and Nicolson, T.

Date:	2003
Source:	Science (New York, N.Y.) 301(5629): 96-99 (Journal)
Registered Authors:	Friedrich, Rainer, Nicolson, Teresa, Sidi, Samuel
Keywords:	none
MeSH Terms:	Amino Acid Sequence Animals Cochlear Microphonic Potentials Computational Biology Deafness Ear, Inner/embryology Endocytosis Gene Expression Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* Hearing In Situ Hybridization Ion Channels/chemistry Ion Channels/genetics Ion Channels/physiology* Mechanotransduction, Cellular* Molecular Sequence Data Oligonucleotides, Antisense Phenotype Phylogeny Postural Balance Reflex, Startle Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Transient Receptor Potential Channels Zebrafish Zebrafish Proteins/chemistry Zebrafish Proteins/genetics Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
PubMed:	12805553 Full text @ Science

ABSTRACT

The senses of hearing and balance in vertebrates rely on the sensory hair cells (HCs) of the inner ear. The central element of the HC's transduction apparatus is a mechanically gated ion channel of unknown identity. Here we report that the zebrafish ortholog of Drosophila no mechanoreceptor potential C (nompC), which encodes a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, is critical for HC mechanotransduction. In zebrafish larvae, nompC is selectively expressed in sensory HCs. Morpholino-mediated removal of nompC function eliminated transduction-dependent endocytosis and electrical responses in HCs, resulting in larval deafness and imbalance. These observations indicate that nompC encodes a vertebrate HC mechanotransduction channel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION