Disparities in voltage-sensor charge and electromotility imply slow chloride-driven state transitions in the solute carrier SLC26a5

Elevator-like movements of prestin mediate outer hair cell electromotility

The outstanding acuity of the mammalian ear relies on cochlear amplification, an active mechanism based on the electromotility (eM) of outer hair cells. eM is a piezoelectric mechanism generated by little-understood, voltage-induced conformational changes of the anion transporter homolog prestin (SLC26A5). We used a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and biophysical approaches to identify the structural dynamics of prestin that mediate eM. MD simulations showed that prestin samples a vast conformational landscape with expanded (ES) and compact (CS) states beyond previously reported prestin structures. Transition from CS to ES is dominated by the translational-rotational movement of prestin's transport domain, akin to elevator-type substrate translocation by related solute carriers. Reversible transition between CS and ES states was supported experimentally by cysteine accessibility scanning, cysteine cross-linking between transport and scaffold domains, and voltage-clamp fluorometry (VCF). Our data demonstrate that prestin's piezoelectric dynamics recapitulate essential steps of a structurally conserved ion transport cycle.

In vivo CRISPR-Cas9-mediated DNA chop identifies a cochlear outer hair cell-specific enhancer

Cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) are essential for hearing. A short, OHC-specific enhancer is necessary but not yet available for gene therapeutic applications in OHC damage. Such damage is a major cause of deafness. Prestin is a motor protein exclusively expressed in OHCs. We hypothesized that the cis-regulatory DNA fragment deletion of Slc26a5 would affect its expression. We tested this hypothesis by conducting CRISPR/Cas9-mediated large DNA fragment deletion of mouse Slc26a5 intron regions. First, starting from a ~13 kbp fragment, step-by-step, we narrowed down the sequence to a 1.4 kbp segment. By deleting either a 13 kbp or 1.4 kbp fragment, we observed delayed Prestin expression. Second, we showed that 1.4 kbp was an OHC-specific enhancer because enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was highly and specifically expressed in OHCs in a transgenic mouse where EGFP was driven by the 1.4 kbp segment. More importantly, specific EGFP was also driven by its homologous 398 bp fragment in human Slc26a5. This suggests that the enhancer is likely to be evolutionarily conserved across different species.

Single particle cryo-EM structure of the outer hair cell motor protein prestin

The mammalian outer hair cell (OHC) protein prestin (Slc26a5) differs from other Slc26 family members due to its unique piezoelectric-like property that drives OHC electromotility, the putative mechanism for cochlear amplification. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine prestin’s structure at 3.6 Å resolution. Prestin is structurally similar to the anion transporter Slc26a9. It is captured in an inward-open state which may reflect prestin’s contracted state. Two well-separated transmembrane (TM) domains and two cytoplasmic sulfate transporter and anti-sigma factor antagonist (STAS) domains form a swapped dimer. The transmembrane domains consist of 14 transmembrane segments organized in two 7+7 inverted repeats, an architecture first observed in the bacterial symporter UraA. Mutation of prestin’s chloride binding site removes salicylate competition with anions while retaining the prestin characteristic displacement currents (Nonlinear Capacitance), undermining the extrinsic voltage sensor hypothesis for prestin function.

Prestin, expressed in outer hair cell (OHC), belongs to the Slc26 transporter family and functions as a voltage-driven motor that drives OHC electromotility. Here, the authors report cryo-EM structure and characterization of gerbil prestin, with insights into its mechanism of action.

Progress in understanding the structural mechanism underlying prestin's electromotile activity

Prestin (SLC26A5), a member of the SLC26 transporter family, is the molecular actuator that drives OHC electromotility (eM). A wealth of biophysical data indicates that eM is mediated by an area motor mechanism, in which prestin molecules act as elementary actuators by changing their area in the membrane in response to changes in membrane potential. The area changes of a large and densely packed population of prestin molecules sum up, resulting in macroscopic cellular movement. At the single protein level, this model implies major voltage-driven conformational rearrangements. However, the nature of these structural dynamics remained unknown. A main obstacle in elucidating the eM mechanism has been the lack of structural information about SLC26 transporters. The recent emergence of several high-resolution cryo-EM structures of prestin as well as other SLC26 transporter family members now provides a reliable picture of prestin's molecular architecture. Thus, SLC26 transporters including prestin generally are dimers, and each protomer is folded according to a 7+7 transmembrane domain inverted repeat (7TMIR) architecture. Here, we review these structural findings and discuss insights into a potential molecular mechanism. Most important, distinct conformations were observed when purifying and imaging prestin bound to either its physiological ligand, chloride, or to competitively inhibitory anions, sulfate or salicylate. Despite differences in detail, these structural snapshots indicate that the conformational landscape of prestin includes rearrangements between the two major domains of prestin's transmembrane region (TMD), core and scaffold ('gate') domains. Notably, distinct conformations differ in the area the TMD occupies in the membrane and in their impact on the immediate lipid environment. Both effects can contribute to generate membrane deformation and thus may underly electromotility. Further functional studies will be necessary to determine whether these or similar structural rearrangements are driven by membrane potential to mediate piezoelectric activity. This article is part of the Special Issue Outer hair cell Edited by Joseph Santos-Sacchi and Kumar Navaratnam.

Molecular mechanism of prestin electromotive signal amplification

Hearing involves two fundamental processes: mechano-electrical transduction and signal amplification. Despite decades of studies, the molecular bases for both remain elusive. Here, we show how prestin, the electromotive molecule of outer hair cells (OHCs) that senses both voltage and membrane tension, mediates signal amplification by coupling conformational changes to alterations in membrane surface area. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human prestin bound with chloride or salicylate at a common "anion site" adopt contracted or expanded states, respectively. Prestin is ensconced within a perimeter of well-ordered lipids, through which it induces dramatic deformation in the membrane and couples protein conformational changes to the bulk membrane. Together with computational studies, we illustrate how the anion site is allosterically coupled to changes in the transmembrane domain cross-sectional area and the surrounding membrane. These studies provide insight into OHC electromotility by providing a structure-based mechanism of the membrane motor prestin.

A novel theoretical framework reveals more than one voltage-sensing pathway in the lateral membrane of outer hair cells

Outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility amplifies acoustic vibrations throughout the frequency range of hearing. Electromotility requires that the lateral membrane protein prestin undergo a conformational change upon changes in the membrane potential to produce an associated displacement charge. The magnitude of the charge displaced and the mid-reaction potential (when one half of the charge is displaced) reflects whether the cells will produce sufficient gain at the resting membrane potential to boost sound in vivo. Voltage clamp measurements performed under near-identical conditions ex vivo show the charge density and mid-reaction potential are not always the same, confounding interpretation of the results. We compare the displacement charge measurements in OHCs from rodents with a theory shown to exhibit good agreement with in silico simulations of voltage-sensing reactions in membranes. This model equates the charge density to the potential difference between two pseudo-equilibrium states of the sensors when they are in a stable conformation and not contributing to the displacement current. The model predicts this potential difference to be one half of its value midway into the reaction, when one equilibrium conformation transforms to the other pseudo-state. In agreement with the model, we find the measured mid-reaction potential to increase as the charge density decreases to exhibit a negative slope of ∼1/2. This relationship suggests that the prestin sensors exhibit more than one stable hyperpolarized state and that voltage sensing occurs by more than one pathway. We determine the electric parameters for prestin sensors and use the analytical expressions of the theory to estimate the energy barriers for the two voltage-dependent pathways. This analysis explains the experimental results, supports the theoretical approach, and suggests that voltage sensing occurs by more than one pathway to enable amplification throughout the frequency range of hearing.

State dependent effects on the frequency response of prestin's real and imaginary components of nonlinear capacitance

The outer hair cell (OHC) membrane harbors a voltage-dependent protein, prestin (SLC26a5), in high density, whose charge movement is evidenced as a nonlinear capacitance (NLC). NLC is bell-shaped, with its peak occurring at a voltage, V_h, where sensor charge is equally distributed across the plasma membrane. Thus, V_h provides information on the conformational state of prestin. V_h is sensitive to membrane tension, shifting to positive voltage as tension increases and is the basis for considering prestin piezoelectric (PZE). NLC can be deconstructed into real and imaginary components that report on charge movements in phase or 90 degrees out of phase with AC voltage. Here we show in membrane macro-patches of the OHC that there is a partial trade-off in the magnitude of real and imaginary components as interrogation frequency increases, as predicted by a recent PZE model (Rabbitt in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 17:21880–21888, 2020). However, we find similar behavior in a simple 2-state voltage-dependent kinetic model of prestin that lacks piezoelectric coupling. At a particular frequency, F_is, the complex component magnitudes intersect. Using this metric, F_is, which depends on the frequency response of each complex component, we find that initial V_h influences F_is; thus, by categorizing patches into groups of different V_h, (above and below − 30 mV) we find that F_is is lower for the negative V_h group. We also find that the effect of membrane tension on complex NLC is dependent, but differentially so, on initial V_h. Whereas the negative group exhibits shifts to higher frequencies for increasing tension, the opposite occurs for the positive group. Despite complex component trade-offs, the low-pass roll-off in absolute magnitude of NLC, which varies little with our perturbations and is indicative of diminishing total charge movement, poses a challenge for a role of voltage-driven prestin in cochlear amplification at very high frequencies.

Outer hair cell electromotility is low-pass filtered relative to the molecular conformational changes that produce nonlinear capacitance

The outer hair cell (OHC) of the organ of Corti underlies a process that enhances hearing, termed cochlear amplification. The cell possesses a unique voltage-sensing protein, prestin, that changes conformation to cause cell length changes, a process termed electromotility (eM). The prestin voltage sensor generates a capacitance that is both voltage- and frequency-dependent, peaking at a characteristic membrane voltage (Vh), which can be greater than the linear capacitance of the OHC. Accordingly, the OHC membrane time constant depends upon resting potential and the frequency of AC stimulation. The confounding influence of this multifarious time constant on eM frequency response has never been addressed. After correcting for this influence on the whole-cell voltage clamp time constant, we find that both guinea pig and mouse OHC eM is low pass, substantially attenuating in magnitude within the frequency bandwidth of human speech. The frequency response is slowest at Vh, with a cut-off, approximated by single Lorentzian fits within that bandwidth, near 1.5 kHz for the guinea pig OHC and near 4.3 kHz for the mouse OHC, each increasing in a U-shaped manner as holding voltage deviates from Vh Nonlinear capacitance (NLC) measurements follow this pattern, with cut-offs about double that for eM. Macro-patch experiments on OHC lateral membranes, where voltage delivery has high fidelity, confirms low pass roll-off for NLC. The U-shaped voltage dependence of the eM roll-off frequency is consistent with prestin's voltage-dependent transition rates. Modeling indicates that the disparity in frequency cut-offs between eM and NLC may be attributed to viscoelastic coupling between prestin's molecular conformations and nanoscale movements of the cell, possibly via the cytoskeleton, indicating that eM is limited by the OHC's internal environment, as well as the external environment. Our data suggest that the influence of OHC eM on cochlear amplification at higher frequencies needs reassessment.

Hearing consequences in Gjb2 knock-in mice: implications for human p.V37I mutation

Human p.V37I mutation of GJB2 gene was strongly correlated with late-onset progressive hearing loss, especially among East Asia populations. We generated a knock-in mouse model based on human p.V37I variant (c.109G>A) that recapitulated the human phenotype. Cochlear pathology revealed no significant hair cell loss, stria vascularis atrophy or spiral ganglion neuron loss, but a significant change in the length of gap junction plaques, which may have contributed to the observed mild endocochlear potential (EP) drop in homozygous mice lasting lifetime. The cochlear amplification in homozygous mice was compromised, but outer hair cells' function remained unchanged, indicating that the reduced amplification was EP- rather than prestin-generated. In addition to ABR threshold elevation, ABR wave I latencies were also prolonged in aged homozygous animals. We found in homozygous IHCs a significant increase in I_Ca but no change in Ca²⁺ efficiency in triggering exocytosis. Environmental insults such as noise exposure, middle ear injection of KCl solution and systemic application of furosemide all exacerbated the pathological phenotype in homozygous mice. We conclude that this Gjb2 mutation-induced hearing loss results from 1) reduced cochlear amplifier caused by lowered EP, 2) IHCs excitotoxicity associated with potassium accumulation around hair cells, and 3) progression induced by environmental insults.

The speed limit of outer hair cell electromechanical activity

The outer hair cell of Corti's organ provides mechanical feedback into the organ to boost auditory perception. The fidelity of voltage-dependent motility has been estimated to extend beyond 50 kHz, where its force generation is deemed a requirement for sensitive high-frequency mammalian hearing. Recent investigations have shown, however, that the frequency response is substantially more low pass at physiological membrane potentials where the kinetics of prestin impose their speed limit. Nevertheless, it is likely that the reduced magnitude of electromotility is sufficient to drive cochlear amplification at high frequencies.

Simultaneous zygotic inactivation of multiple genes in mouse through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editing

In vivo genetic mutation has become a powerful tool for dissecting gene function; however, multi-gene interaction and the compensatory mechanisms involved can make findings from single mutations, at best difficult to interpret, and, at worst, misleading. Hence, it is necessary to establish an efficient way to disrupt multiple genes simultaneously. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editing disrupts gene function by converting a protein-coding sequence into a stop codon; this is referred to as CRISPR-stop. Its application in generating zygotic mutations has not been well explored yet. Here, we first performed a proof-of-principle test by disrupting Atoh1, a gene crucial for auditory hair cell generation. Next, we individually mutated vGlut3 (Slc17a8), otoferlin (Otof) and prestin (Slc26a5), three genes needed for normal hearing function. Finally, we successfully disrupted vGlut3, Otof and prestin simultaneously. Our results show that CRISPR-stop can efficiently generate single or triple homozygous F0 mouse mutants, bypassing laborious mouse breeding. We believe that CRISPR-stop is a powerful method that will pave the way for high-throughput screening of mouse developmental and functional genes, matching the efficiency of methods available for model organisms such as Drosophila.

The Frequency Response of Outer Hair Cell Voltage-Dependent Motility Is Limited by Kinetics of Prestin

The voltage-dependent protein SLC26a5 (prestin) underlies outer hair cell electromotility (eM), which is responsible for cochlear amplification in mammals. The electrical signature of eM is a bell-shaped nonlinear capacitance (NLC), deriving from prestin sensor-charge (Qp) movements, which peaks at the membrane voltage, Vh, where charge is distributed equally on either side of the membrane. Voltage dependencies of NLC and eM differ depending on interrogation frequency and intracellular chloride, revealing slow intermediate conformational transitions between anion binding and voltage-driven Qp movements. Consequently, NLC exhibits low-pass characteristics, substantially below prevailing estimates of eM frequency response. Here we study in guinea pig and mouse of either sex synchronous prestin electrical (NLC, Qp) and mechanical (eM) activity across frequencies under voltage clamp (whole cell and microchamber). We find that eM and Qp magnitude and phase correspond, indicating tight piezoelectric coupling. Electromechanical measures (both NLC and eM) show dual-Lorentzian, low-pass behavior, with a limiting (τ2) time constant at Vh of 32.6 and 24.8 μs, respectively. As expected for voltage-dependent kinetics, voltage excitation away from Vh has a faster, flatter frequency response, with our fastest measured τ2 for eM of 18.2 μs. Previous observations of ultrafast eM (τ ≈ 2 μs) were obtained at offsets far removed from Vh We hypothesize that trade-offs in eM gain-bandwith arising from voltage excitation at membrane potentials offset from Vh influence the effectiveness of cochlear amplification across frequencies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Of two types of hair cells within the organ of Corti, inner hair cells and outer hair cells, the latter evolved to boost sensitivity to sounds. Damage results in hearing loss of 40-60 dB, revealing amplification gains of 100-1000× that arise from voltage-dependent mechanical responses [electromotility (eM)]. eM, driven by the membrane protein prestin, may work beyond 70 kHz. However, this speed exceeds, by over an order of magnitude, kinetics of typical voltage-dependent membrane proteins. We find eM is actually low pass in nature, indicating that prestin bears kinetics typical of other membrane proteins. These observations highlight potential difficulties in providing sufficient amplification beyond a cutoff frequency near 20 kHz. Nevertheless, observed trade-offs in eM gain-bandwith may sustain cochlear amplification across frequency.

Diflunisal inhibits prestin by chloride-dependent mechanism

The motor protein prestin is a member of the SLC26 family of anion antiporters and is essential to the electromotility of cochlear outer hair cells and for hearing. The only direct inhibitor of electromotility and the associated charge transfer is salicylate, possibly through direct interaction with an anion-binding site on prestin. In a screen to identify other inhibitors of prestin activity, we explored the effect of the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug diflunisal, which is a derivative of salicylate. We recorded prestin activity by whole-cell patch clamping HEK cells transiently expressing prestin and mouse outer hair cells. We monitored the impact of diflunisal on the prestin-dependent non-linear capacitance and electromotility. We found that diflunisal triggers two prestin-associated effects: a chloride independent increase in the surface area and the specific capacitance of the membrane, and a chloride dependent inhibition of the charge transfer and the electromotility in outer hair cells. We conclude that diflunisal affects the cell membrane organization and inhibits prestin-associated charge transfer and electromotility at physiological chloride concentrations. The inhibitory effects on hair cell function are noteworthy given the proposed use of diflunisal to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Two-Dimensional Cochlear Micromechanics Measured In Vivo Demonstrate Radial Tuning within the Mouse Organ of Corti

The exquisite sensitivity and frequency discrimination of mammalian hearing underlie the ability to understand complex speech in noise. This requires force generation by cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) to amplify the basilar membrane traveling wave; however, it is unclear how amplification is achieved with sharp frequency tuning. Here we investigated the origin of tuning by measuring sound-induced 2-D vibrations within the mouse organ of Corti in vivo Our goal was to determine the transfer function relating the radial shear between the structures that deflect the OHC bundle, the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina, to the transverse motion of the basilar membrane. We found that, after normalizing their responses to the vibration of the basilar membrane, the radial vibrations of the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina were tuned. The radial tuning peaked at a higher frequency than transverse basilar membrane tuning in the passive, postmortem condition. The radial tuning was similar in dead mice, indicating that this reflected passive, not active, mechanics. These findings were exaggerated in Tecta(C1509G/C1509G) mice, where the tectorial membrane is detached from OHC stereocilia, arguing that the tuning of radial vibrations within the hair cell epithelium is distinct from tectorial membrane tuning. Together, these results reveal a passive, frequency-dependent contribution to cochlear filtering that is independent of basilar membrane filtering. These data argue that passive mechanics within the organ of Corti sharpen frequency selectivity by defining which OHCs enhance the vibration of the basilar membrane, thereby tuning the gain of cochlear amplification.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Outer hair cells amplify the traveling wave within the mammalian cochlea. The resultant gain and frequency sharpening are necessary for speech discrimination, particularly in the presence of background noise. Here we measured the 2-D motion of the organ of Corti in mice and found that the structures that stimulate the outer hair cell stereocilia, the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina, were sharply tuned in the radial direction. Radial tuning was similar in dead mice and in mice lacking a tectorial membrane. This suggests that radial tuning comes from passive mechanics within the hair cell epithelium, and that these mechanics, at least in part, may tune the gain of cochlear amplification.

Chloride Anions Regulate Kinetics but Not Voltage-Sensor Qmax of the Solute Carrier SLC26a5

In general, SLC26 solute carriers serve to transport a variety of anions across biological membranes. However, prestin (SLC26a5) has evolved, now serving as a motor protein in outer hair cells (OHCs) of the mammalian inner ear and is required for cochlear amplification, a mechanical feedback mechanism to boost auditory performance. The mechanical activity of the OHC imparted by prestin is driven by voltage and controlled by anions, chiefly intracellular chloride. Current opinion is that chloride anions control the Boltzmann characteristics of the voltage sensor responsible for prestin activity, including Qmax, the total sensor charge moved within the membrane, and Vh, a measure of prestin's operating voltage range. Here, we show that standard narrow-band, high-frequency admittance measures of nonlinear capacitance (NLC), an alternate representation of the sensor's charge-voltage (Q-V) relationship, is inadequate for assessment of Qmax, an estimate of the sum of unitary charges contributed by all voltage sensors within the membrane. Prestin's slow transition rates and chloride-binding kinetics adversely influence these estimates, contributing to the prevalent concept that intracellular chloride level controls the quantity of sensor charge moved. By monitoring charge movement across frequency, using measures of multifrequency admittance, expanded displacement current integration, and OHC electromotility, we find that chloride influences prestin kinetics, thereby controlling charge magnitude at any particular frequency of interrogation. Importantly, however, this chloride dependence vanishes as frequency decreases, with Qmax asymptoting at a level irrespective of the chloride level. These data indicate that prestin activity is significantly low-pass in the frequency domain, with important implications for cochlear amplification. We also note that the occurrence of voltage-dependent charge movements in other SLC26 family members may be hidden by inadequate interrogation timescales, and that revelation of such activity could highlight an evolutionary means for kinetic modifications within the family to address hearing requirements in mammals.

Energy Output from a Single Outer Hair Cell

Electromotility of outer hair cells (OHCs) has been extensively studied with in vitro experiments because of its physiological significance to the cochlear amplifier, which provides the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the mammalian ear. However, these studies have been performed largely under load-free conditions or with static load, while these cells function in vivo in a dynamic environment, receiving electrical energy to enhance mechanical oscillation in the inner ear. This gap leaves uncertainties in addressing a key issue, how much mechanical energy an OHC provides. This study is an attempt of bridging the gap by introducing a simple one-dimensional model for electromotility of OHC in a dynamic environment. This model incorporates a feedback loop involving the receptor potential and the mechanical load on OHC, and leads to an analytical expression for the membrane capacitance, which explicitly describes the dependence on the elastic load, viscous drag, and the mass. The derived equation of motion was examined in a mass-less model system with realistic parameter values for OHC. It was found that viscous drag is more effective than elastic load in enhancing the receptor potential that drives the cell. For this reason, it is expected that OHCs are more effective in counteracting viscous drag than providing elastic energy to the system.

Current carried by the Slc26 family member prestin does not flow through the transporter pathway

Prestin in the lateral membrane of outer hair cells, is responsible for electromotility (EM) and a corresponding nonlinear capacitance (NLC). Prestin’s voltage sensitivity is influenced by intracellular chloride. A regulator of intracellular chloride is a stretch-sensitive, non-selective conductance within the lateral membrane, G_metL. We determine that prestin itself possesses a stretch-sensitive, non-selective conductance that is largest in the presence of thiocyanate ions. This conductance is independent of the anion transporter mechanism. Prestin has been modeled, based on structural data from related anion transporters (SLC26Dg and UraA), to have a 7 + 7 inverted repeat structure with anion transport initiated by chloride binding at the intracellular cleft. Mutation of residues that bind intracellular chloride, and salicylate treatment which prevents chloride binding, have no effect on thiocyanate conductance. In contrast, other mutations reduce the conductance while preserving NLC. When superimposed on prestin’s structure, the location of these mutations indicates that the ion permeation pathway lies between the core and gate ring of helices, distinct from the transporter pathway. The uncoupled current is reminiscent of an omega current in voltage-gated ion channels. We suggest that prestin itself is the main regulator of intracellular chloride concentration via a route distinct from its transporter pathway.

The chloride-channel blocker 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid reduces the nonlinear capacitance of prestin-associated charge movement

The basis of the extraordinary sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the cochlea is a chloride-sensitive protein called prestin which can produce an electromechanical response and which resides in the basolateral plasma membrane of outer hair cells (OHCs). The compound 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-AC), an inhibitor of chloride channels, has been found to reduce the electromechanical response of the cochlea and the OHC mechanical impedance. To elucidate these 9-AC effects, the functional electromechanical status of prestin was assayed by measuring the nonlinear capacitance of OHCs from the guinea-pig cochlea and of prestin-transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells. Extracellular application of 9-AC caused reversible, dose-dependent and chloride-sensitive reduction in OHC nonlinear charge transfer, Qmax . Prestin-transfected cells also showed reversible reduction in Qmax . For OHCs, intracellular 9-AC application as well as reduced intracellular pH had no detectable effect on the reduction in Qmax by extracellularly applied 9-AC. In the prestin-transfected cells, cytosolic application of 9-AC approximately halved the blocking efficacy of extracellularly applied 9-AC. OHC inside-out patches presented the whole-cell blocking characteristics. Disruption of the cytoskeleton by preventing actin polymerization with latrunculin A or by decoupling of spectrin from actin with diamide did not affect the 9-AC-evoked reduction in Qmax . We conclude that 9-AC acts on the electromechanical transducer principally by interaction with prestin rather than acting via the cytoskeleton, chloride channels or pH. The 9-AC block presents characteristics in common with salicylate, but is almost an order of magnitude faster. 9-AC provides a new tool for elucidating the molecular dynamics of prestin function.

A Walkthrough of Nonlinear Capacitance Measurement of Outer Hair Cells

Nonlinear capacitance (NLC) measures are often used as surrogate measures of outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility (eM), since the two are commonly thought to share many biophysical features. The measurement of NLC is simpler than direct measurements of eM and, therefore, many investigators have adopted it. A standard patch-clamp hardware configuration is sufficient for recording NLC, given the proper software interface. Thus, the approach is cost effective. We use the software jClamp since it is tailored to capacitance measurement. Here we detail steps that we use to measure NLC. The walk through includes isolation of guinea pig OHCs, building voltage commands, recording, and analysis.

Chloride-driven electromechanical phase lags at acoustic frequencies are generated by SLC26a5, the outer hair cell motor protein

Outer hair cells (OHC) possess voltage-dependent membrane bound molecular motors, identified as the solute carrier protein SLC26a5, that drive somatic motility at acoustic frequencies. The electromotility (eM) of OHCs provides for cochlear amplification, a process that enhances auditory sensitivity by up to three orders of magnitude. In this study, using whole cell voltage clamp and mechanical measurement techniques, we identify disparities between voltage sensing and eM that result from stretched exponential electromechanical behavior of SLC26a5, also known as prestin, for its fast responsiveness. This stretched exponential behavior, which we accurately recapitulate with a new kinetic model, the meno presto model of prestin, influences the protein's responsiveness to chloride binding and provides for delays in eM relative to membrane voltage driving force. The model predicts that in the frequency domain, these delays would result in eM phase lags that we confirm by measuring OHC eM at acoustic frequencies. These lags may contribute to canceling viscous drag, a requirement for many models of cochlear amplification.

An electrical inspection of the subsurface cisternae of the outer hair cell

The cylindrical outer hair cell (OHC) of Corti's organ drives cochlear amplification by a voltage-dependent activation of the molecular motor, prestin (SLC26a5), in the cell's lateral membrane. The voltage-dependent nature of this process leads to the troublesome observation that the membrane resistor-capacitor filter could limit high-frequency acoustic activation of the motor. Based on cable theory, the unique 30 nm width compartment (the extracisternal space, ECS) formed between the cell's lateral membrane and adjacent subsurface cisternae (SSC) could further limit the influence of receptor currents on lateral membrane voltage. Here, we use dual perforated/whole-cell and loose patch clamp on isolated OHCs to sequentially record currents resulting from excitation at apical, middle, and basal loose patch sites before and after perforated patch rupture. We find that timing of currents is fast and uniform before whole-cell pipette washout, suggesting little voltage attenuation along the length of the lateral membrane. Prior treatment with salicylate, a disrupter of the SSC, confirms the influence of the SSC on current spread. Finally, a cable model of the OHC, which can match our data, indicates that the SSC poses a minimal barrier to current flow across it, thereby facilitating rapid delivery of voltage excitation to the prestin-embedded lateral membrane.

Prestin is an anion transporter dispensable for mechanical feedback amplification in Drosophila hearing

In mammals, the membrane-based protein Prestin confers unique electromotile properties to cochlear outer hair cells, which contribute to the cochlear amplifier. Like mammals, the ears of insects, such as those of Drosophila melanogaster, mechanically amplify sound stimuli and have also been reported to express Prestin homologs. To determine whether the D. melanogaster Prestin homolog (dpres) is required for auditory amplification, we generated and analyzed dpres mutant flies. We found that dpres is robustly expressed in the fly’s antennal ear. However, dpres mutant flies show normal auditory nerve responses, and intact non-linear amplification. Thus we conclude that, in D. melanogaster, auditory amplification is independent of Prestin. This finding resonates with prior phylogenetic analyses, which suggest that the derived motor function of mammalian Prestin replaced, or amended, an ancestral transport function. Indeed, we show that dpres encodes a functional anion transporter. Interestingly, the acquired new motor function in the phylogenetic lineage leading to birds and mammals coincides with loss of the mechanotransducer channel NompC (=TRPN1), which has been shown to be required for auditory amplification in flies. The advent of Prestin (or loss of NompC, respectively) may thus mark an evolutionary transition from a transducer-based to a Prestin-based mechanism of auditory amplification.

Vibration of the organ of Corti within the cochlear apex in mice

The tonotopic map of the mammalian cochlea is commonly thought to be determined by the passive mechanical properties of the basilar membrane. The other tissues and cells that make up the organ of Corti also have passive mechanical properties; however, their roles are less well understood. In addition, active forces produced by outer hair cells (OHCs) enhance the vibration of the basilar membrane, termed cochlear amplification. Here, we studied how these biomechanical components interact using optical coherence tomography, which permits vibratory measurements within tissue. We measured not only classical basilar membrane tuning curves, but also vibratory responses from the rest of the organ of Corti within the mouse cochlear apex in vivo. As expected, basilar membrane tuning was sharp in live mice and broad in dead mice. Interestingly, the vibratory response of the region lateral to the OHCs, the "lateral compartment," demonstrated frequency-dependent phase differences relative to the basilar membrane. This was sharply tuned in both live and dead mice. We then measured basilar membrane and lateral compartment vibration in transgenic mice with targeted alterations in cochlear mechanics. Prestin(499/499), Prestin(-/-), and Tecta(C1509G/C1509G) mice demonstrated no cochlear amplification but maintained the lateral compartment phase difference. In contrast, Sfswap(Tg/Tg) mice maintained cochlear amplification but did not demonstrate the lateral compartment phase difference. These data indicate that the organ of Corti has complex micromechanical vibratory characteristics, with passive, yet sharply tuned, vibratory characteristics associated with the supporting cells. These characteristics may tune OHC force generation to produce the sharp frequency selectivity of mammalian hearing.

IR laser-induced perturbations of the voltage-dependent solute carrier protein SLC26a5

Alterations in membrane capacitance can arise from linear and nonlinear sources. For example, changes in membrane surface area or dielectric properties can modify capacitance linearly, whereas sensor residues of voltage-dependent proteins can modify capacitance nonlinearly. Here, we examined the effects of fast temperature jumps induced by an infrared (IR) laser in control and prestin (SLC26a5)-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells under whole-cell voltage clamp. Prestin's voltage sensor imparts a characteristic bell-shaped, voltage-dependent nonlinear capacitance (NLC). Temperature jumps in control HEK cells cause a monophasic increase in membrane capacitance (Cm) regardless of holding voltage due to double-layer effects. Prestin-transfected HEK cells, however, additionally show a biphasic increase/decrease in Cm with a reversal potential corresponding to the voltage at peak NLC of prestin (Vh), attributable to a rapid temperature-following shift in Vh, with shift rates up to 14 V/s over the course of a 5 ms IR pulse. Treatment with salicylate, a known inhibitor of NLC, reestablishes control cell behavior. A simple kinetic model recapitulates our biophysical observations. These results verify a voltage-dependent protein's ability to respond to fast temperature perturbations on a par with double-layer susceptibility. This likely arises from prestin's unique ability to move sensor charge at kilohertz rates, which is required for the outer hair cells' role as a cochlear amplifier.

Molecular architecture and the structural basis for anion interaction in prestin and SLC26 transporters

Prestin (SLC26A5) is a member of the SLC26/SulP anion transporter family. Its unique quasi-piezoelectric mechanical activity generates fast cellular motility of cochlear outer hair cells, a key process underlying active amplification in the mammalian ear. Despite its established physiological role, it is essentially unknown how prestin can generate mechanical force, since structural information on SLC26/SulP proteins is lacking. Here we derive a structural model of prestin and related transporters by combining homology modelling, MD simulations and cysteine accessibility scanning. Prestin’s transmembrane core region is organized in a 7+7 inverted repeat architecture. The model suggests a central cavity as the substrate-binding site located midway of the anion permeation pathway, which is supported by experimental solute accessibility and mutational analysis. Anion binding to this site also controls the electromotile activity of prestin. The combined structural and functional data provide a framework for understanding electromotility and anion transport by SLC26 transporters.

Prestin is an anion transporter-like protein in the mammalian inner ear that amplifies sound-induced vibration by voltage-driven structural rearrangements. Here, Gorbunov et al. show that this electromechanical activity is controlled by the binding of anions to a central cavity within the protein core.

Chloride and salicylate influence prestin-dependent specific membrane capacitance: support for the area motor model

The outer hair cell is electromotile, its membrane motor identified as the protein SLC26a5 (prestin). An area motor model, based on two-state Boltzmann statistics, was developed about two decades ago and derives from the observation that outer hair cell surface area is voltage-dependent. Indeed, aside from the nonlinear capacitance imparted by the voltage sensor charge movement of prestin, linear capacitance (Clin) also displays voltage dependence as motors move between expanded and compact states. Naturally, motor surface area changes alter membrane capacitance. Unit linear motor capacitance fluctuation (δCsa) is on the order of 140 zeptofarads. A recent three-state model of prestin provides an alternative view, suggesting that voltage-dependent linear capacitance changes are not real but only apparent because the two component Boltzmann functions shift their midpoint voltages (Vh) in opposite directions during treatment with salicylate, a known competitor of required chloride binding. We show here using manipulations of nonlinear capacitance with both salicylate and chloride that an enhanced area motor model, including augmented δCsa by salicylate, can accurately account for our novel findings. We also show that although the three-state model implicitly avoids measuring voltage-dependent motor capacitance, it registers δCsa effects as a byproduct of its assessment of Clin, which increases during salicylate treatment as motors are locked in the expanded state. The area motor model, in contrast, captures the characteristics of the voltage dependence of δCsa, leading to a better understanding of prestin.

Prestin at year 14: progress and prospect

Prestin, the motor protein of cochlear outer hair cells, was identified 14 years ago. Prestin-based outer hair cell motility is responsible for the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity seen in the mammalian cochlea. Prestin is the 5th member of an eleven-member membrane transporter superfamily of SLC26A proteins. Unlike its paralogs, which are capable of transporting anions across the cell membrane, prestin primarily functions as a motor protein with unique capability of performing direct and reciprocal electromechanical conversion on microsecond time scale. Significant progress in the understanding of its structure and the molecular mechanism has been made in recent years using electrophysiological, biochemical, comparative genomics, structural bioinformatics, molecular dynamics simulation, site-directed mutagenesis and domain-swapping techniques. This article reviews recent advances of the structural and functional properties of prestin with focus on the areas that are critical but still controversial in understanding the molecular mechanism of how prestin works: The structural domains for voltage sensing and interaction with anions and for conformational change. Future research directions and potential application of prestin are also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Annual Reviews 2014>.