A novel theoretical framework reveals more than one voltage-sensing pathway in the lateral membrane of outer hair cells.

ABSTRACT: Outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility amplifies acoustic vibrations throughout the frequency range of hearing. Electromotility requires that the lateral membrane protein prestin undergo a conformational change upon changes in the membrane potential to produce an associated displacement charge. The magnitude of the charge displaced and the mid-reaction potential (when one half of the charge is displaced) reflects whether the cells will produce sufficient gain at the resting membrane potential to boost sound in vivo. Voltage clamp measurements performed under near-identical conditions ex vivo show the charge density and mid-reaction potential are not always the same, confounding interpretation of the results. We compare the displacement charge measurements in OHCs from rodents with a theory

SUBMITTER: Farrell B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7335013 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature