CURVATURE ELASTICITY IN OUTER HAIR CELL ELECTROMOTILITY

这项建议中的研究目的是了解 外毛细胞电动的分子机制。这个独一无二的 细胞运动的形式是造成这种显著敏感性的原因 以及哺乳动物听觉的精致频率选择性。损失 电动被认为是导致敏感听觉的原因。 损失。在我们了解电动的分子机制之前， 我们将无力承担任何治疗人类的临床努力 患有听力障碍。这项提案中的研究计划 为了检验新的假设，即膜曲率的变化是 负责机电耦合过程。这将是 通过测试各种药剂的效果来完成实验 已知会影响膜在外毛上弯曲的能力 电池的电压相关电容和能动性。一种理论模型 将开发电动特性，其中包括一种分析 曲率弹性能的表达式。将使用此模型 预测非线性电容随膜张力的变化。 该模型还将用于预测预期的电容变化 根据泊松来计算薄膜的弯曲- 玻尔兹曼方程和膜静电理论。

The objective of the research in this proposal is to understand the molecular mechanism of outer hair cell electromotility. This unique form of cellular motility is responsible for the remarkable sensitivity and exquisite frequency selectivity of mammalian hearing. Loss of electromotility is believed to be responsible for sensioneural hearing loss. Until we understand the molecular mechanism of electromotility, we will be powerless to undertake any clinical efforts to treat people suffering from hearing impairment. The research in this proposal plans to test the novel hypothesis that changes in membrane curvature are responsible for the electromechanical coupling process. This will be accomplished experimentally by testing the effects of various agents known to affect the ability of a membrane to bend on the outer hair cell's voltage dependent capacitance and motility. A theoretical model of electromotility will be developed which includes an analytic expression for the curvature elastic energy. This model will be used to predict the shift in the nonlinear capacitance with membrane tension. The model will also be used to predict the capacitance change expected from membrane bending which will be calculated from the Poisson- Boltzmann equation and membrane electrostatic theory.