Structural correlates of prestin activity

在发现Prestin 20年后，一个阴离子转运蛋白(SLC26)家族 成员，作为外毛细胞(OHC)的侧膜发动机蛋白，我们是 面对更充分地了解这种单一分子如何 影响哺乳动物敏锐的听觉。我们建议将目标集中在一组 目标的确定，包括1)确定控制压力的机械载荷的影响 频率依赖性；传感器电荷运动的同时测量(复数 NLC)，电动计划，2)确定几种细胞骨架的效果 蛋白质对电动和电荷运动的影响以及3)确定脂质和 侧壁蛋白质组环境沿正位轴线的变化及其影响 关于传感器的电荷运动。为了实现这些目标，我们将雇佣大量的 遗传学、电生理学、分子生物学和生化方法。我们相信 我们通过这些研究获得的信息将有助于理解 OHC使我们能够如此清楚地听到，反过来我们如何应对 折磨着数百万人的OHC。

Twenty years after the identification of prestin, an anion transporter (SLC26) family member, as the lateral membrane motor protein of the outer hair cell (OHC), we are faced with the possibility of more fully understanding how this single molecule can influence the mammal’s exquisite sense of hearing. We propose to target a focused set of aims, including 1) determining the influence of mechanical load in governing prestin’s frequency dependence; simultaneous measures of sensor charge movement (complex NLC), electromotility are planned, 2) determining the effect of several cytoskeletal proteins on electromotility and charge movement and 3) ascertaining how the lipid and proteomic environment in the lateral wall changes along the tonotopic axis and its effects on sensor charge movement. In order to reach these goals, we will employ a host of genetic, electrophysiological, molecular biological and biochemical methods. We believe that the information that we obtain through these studies will aid in understanding how the OHC enables us to hear so well and in turn how we might combat pathologies of the OHC that afflict millions.