Three-dimensional architecture of hair-cell linkages as revealedby electron-microscopic tomography
The senses of hearing and balance rest upon mechanoelectrical transduction by the hair bundles of hair cells in the inner ear. Located at the apical cellular surface, each hair bundle comprises several tens of stereocilia and a single kinocilium that are interconnected by extracellular proteinaceous links. Using electron-microscopic tomography of bullfrog saccular sensory epithelia, we examined the three-dimensional structures of ankle or basal links, kinociliary links, and tip links. We observed clear differences in the dimensions and appearances of the three links. We found two distinct populations of tip links suggestive of the involvement of two proteins or splice variants. We noted auxiliary links connecting the upper portions of tip links to the taller stereocilia. Tip links and auxiliary links show a tendency to adopt a globular conformation when disconnected from the membrane surface.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Director, Office of Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 929758
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-61181; JNRSDS; R&D Project: 366995; BnR: YN0100000; TRN: US200812%%649
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 9, Issue 2; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 06/2008; ISSN 0270-6474
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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