A chemical-genetic strategy implicates myosin-1c in adaptation by hair cells

Cell. 2002 Feb 8;108(3):371-81. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00629-3.

Abstract

Myosin-1c (also known as myosin-Ibeta) has been proposed to mediate the slow component of adaptation by hair cells, the sensory cells of the inner ear. To test this hypothesis, we mutated tyrosine-61 of myosin-1c to glycine, conferring susceptibility to inhibition by N(6)-modified ADP analogs. We expressed the mutant myosin-1c in utricular hair cells of transgenic mice, delivered an ADP analog through a whole-cell recording pipette, and found that the analog rapidly blocked adaptation to positive and negative deflections in transgenic cells but not in wild-type cells. The speed and specificity of inhibition suggests that myosin-1c participates in adaptation in hair cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Animals
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / physiology*
  • Hearing / genetics
  • Hearing / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / chemistry*
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / physiology

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Myo1a protein, mouse
  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Myosin Heavy Chains