NompC TRP channel required for vertebrate sensory hair cell mechanotransduction

Samuel Sidi, Rainer W. Friedrich, Teresa Nicolson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

260 Scopus citations

Abstract

The senses of hearing and balance in vertebrates rely on the sensory hair cells (HCs) of the inner ear. The central element of the HC's transduction apparatus is a mechanically gated ion channel of unknown identity. Here we report that the zebrafish ortholog of Drosophila no mechanoreceptor potential C (nompC), which encodes a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, is critical for HC mechanotransduction. In zebrafish larvae, nompC is selectively expressed in sensory HCs. Morpholino-mediated removal of nompC function eliminated transduction-dependent endocytosis and etectrical responses in HCs, resulting in larval deafness and imbalance. These observations indicate that nompC encodes a vertebrate HC mechanotransduction channel.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)96-99
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume301
Issue number5629
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 4 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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