Direct mechanical stimulation of tip links in hair cells through DNA tethers

eLife

Brian A Fabella¹  Maria Vologodskaia¹  Aakash Basu¹  AJ Hudspeth¹  Samuel Lagier¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Sensory Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States;

关键词: auditory system;    bullfrog;    mechanoelectrical transduction;    vestibular system;   

DOI  :  10.7554/eLife.16041

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Mechanoelectrical transduction by hair cells commences with hair-bundle deflection, which is postulated to tense filamentous tip links connected to transduction channels. Because direct mechanical stimulation of tip links has not been experimentally possible, this hypothesis has not been tested. We have engineered DNA tethers that link superparamagnetic beads to tip links and exert mechanical forces on the links when exposed to a magnetic-field gradient. By pulling directly on tip links of the bullfrog's sacculus we have evoked transduction currents from hair cells, confirming the hypothesis that tension in the tip links opens transduction channels. This demonstration of direct mechanical access to tip links additionally lays a foundation for experiments probing the mechanics of individual channels.

【 授权许可】

Unknown