Unconventional Myosin Distribution Inner Ear Hair Cells

描述（由申请人提供）：内耳毛细胞中观察到的形态和生理多样性的基础是分子差异。 这项研究将使用蛋白质分布来研究脊椎动物分类群中毛细胞的多样性。将使用免疫细胞化学检查毛细胞中非常规肌球蛋白的分布。将使用从私人或商业来源获得的抗体，使用共聚焦显微镜观察荧光标记的感觉上皮。将采用蛋白质印迹法验证抗体特异性。非常规肌球蛋白的基因表达将用RT-PCR验证。 这些结果将有助于毛细胞功能的比较研究，因为基因表达或蛋白质分布的差异可能与功能差异相关。这些结果对于研究非常规肌球蛋白在耳聋中的作用的研究人员也将是有用的，因为它将为研究开辟更广泛的物种。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Molecular differences underlie the morphological and physiological diversity seen in inner ear hair cells. This research will use protein distribution to investigate hair cell diversity across vertebrate taxonomic groups. Distribution of unconventional myosins in hair cells will be examined using immunocytochemistry. Confocal microscopy will be used to view fluorescently labeled sensory epithelia using antibodies obtained from either private or commercial sources. Antibody specificity will be verified with western blotting. Gene expression of unconventional myosins will be validated with RT-PCR. These results will be useful for comparative studies of hair cell function, as differences in gene expression or protein distribution may be correlated to functional differences. These results will also be useful to researchers studying the role of unconventional myosins in deafness, as it will open up a wider variety of species for study.