Phylogenetic differences in calcium permeability of the auditory hair cell cholinergic nicotinic receptor.

ABSTRACT: The α9 and α10 cholinergic nicotinic receptor subunits assemble to form the receptor that mediates efferent inhibition of hair cell function within the auditory sensory organ, a mechanism thought to modulate the dynamic range of hearing. In contrast to all nicotinic receptors, which serve excitatory neurotransmission, the activation of α9α10 produces hyperpolarization of hair cells. An evolutionary analysis has shown that the α10 subunit exhibits signatures of positive selection only along the mammalian lineage, strongly suggesting the acquisition of a unique function. To establish whether mammalian α9α10 receptors have acquired distinct functional properties as a consequence of this evolutionary pressure, we compared the properties of rat and chicken recombinant and native α9α10 receptors

SUBMITTER: Lipovsek M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3306713 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature