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Takahashi S, Zhou Y, Cheatham MA, Homma K. The frequency dependence of prestin-mediated fast electromotility for mammalian cochlear amplification. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.22.595389. [PMID: 38826260 PMCID: PMC11142200 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.22.595389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Prestin's voltage-driven motor activity confers sound-elicited somatic electromotility in auditory outer hair cells (OHCs) and is essential for the exquisite sensitivity and frequency selectivity of mammalian hearing. Lack of prestin results in hearing threshold shifts across frequency, supporting the causal association of variants in the prestin-coding gene, SLC26A5 , with human hearing loss, DFNB61. However, cochlear function can tolerate reductions in prestin-mediated OHC electromotility. We found that two deafness-associated prestin variants, p.A100T and p.P119S, do not deprive prestin of its fast motor function but significantly reduce membrane expression, leading to large reductions in OHC electromotility that were only ∼30% of wildtype (WT). Mice harboring these missense variants suffered congenital hearing loss that was worse at high frequencies; however, they retained WT-like auditory brainstem response thresholds at 8 kHz, which is processed at the apex of the mouse cochlea. This observation suggests the increasing importance of prestin-driven cochlear amplification at higher frequencies relevant to mammalian hearing. The observation also suggests the promising clinical possibility that small enhancements of OHC electromotility could significantly ameliorate DFNB61 hearing loss in human patients. SIGNIFICANCE Prestin is abundantly expressed in the auditory outer hair cells and is essential for normal cochlear operation. Hence, reduction of prestin expression is often taken as indicative of reduced cochlear function in diseased or aged ears. However, this assumption overlooks the fact that cochlear function can tolerate large reductions in prestin motor activity. DFNB61 mouse models generated and characterized in this study provide an opportunity to gauge the amount of prestin motor activity needed to sustain normal hearing sensitivity. This knowledge is crucial not only for understanding the pathogenic roles of deafness-associated variants that impair OHC electromotility but also for unraveling how prestin contributes to cochlear amplification.
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Takahashi S, Homma K. The molecular principles underlying diverse functions of the SLC26 family of proteins. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107261. [PMID: 38582450 PMCID: PMC11078650 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian SLC26 proteins are membrane-based anion transporters that belong to the large SLC26/SulP family, and many of their variants are associated with hereditary diseases. Recent structural studies revealed a strikingly similar homodimeric molecular architecture for several SLC26 members, implying a shared molecular principle. Now a new question emerges as to how these structurally similar proteins execute diverse physiological functions. In this study, we sought to identify the common versus distinct molecular mechanism among the SLC26 proteins using both naturally occurring and artificial missense changes introduced to SLC26A4, SLC26A5, and SLC26A9. We found: (i) the basic residue at the anion binding site is essential for both anion antiport of SLC26A4 and motor functions of SLC26A5, and its conversion to a nonpolar residue is crucial but not sufficient for the fast uncoupled anion transport in SLC26A9; (ii) the conserved polar residues in the N- and C-terminal cytosolic domains are likely involved in dynamic hydrogen-bonding networks and are essential for anion antiport of SLC26A4 but not for motor (SLC26A5) and uncoupled anion transport (SLC26A9) functions; (iii) the hydrophobic interaction between each protomer's last transmembrane helices, TM14, is not of functional significance in SLC26A9 but crucial for the functions of SLC26A4 and SLC26A5, likely contributing to optimally orient the axis of the relative movements of the core domain with respect to the gate domains within the cell membrane. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the diverse physiological roles of the SLC26 family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoe Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Center for Mechanical Excitability, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Center for Mechanical Excitability, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; The Hugh Knowles Center for Clinical and Basic Science in Hearing and Its Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
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Takahashi S, Homma K. The molecular principles underlying diverse functions of the SLC26 family of proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.10.570988. [PMID: 38106153 PMCID: PMC10723444 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.10.570988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian SLC26 proteins are membrane-based anion transporters that belong to the large SLC26/SulP family, and many of their variants are associated with hereditary diseases. Recent structural studies revealed a strikingly similar homodimeric molecular architecture for several SLC26 members, implying a shared molecular principle. Now a new question emerges as to how these structurally similar proteins execute diverse physiological functions. In this study we sought to identify the common vs. distinct molecular mechanism among the SLC26 proteins using both naturally occurring and artificial missense changes introduced to SLC26A4, SLC26A5, and SLC26A9. We found: (i) the basic residue at the anion binding site is essential for both anion antiport of SLC26A4 and motor functions of SLC26A5, and its conversion to a nonpolar residue is crucial but not sufficient for the fast uncoupled anion transport in SLC26A9; (ii) the conserved polar residues in the N- and C-terminal cytosolic domains are likely involved in dynamic hydrogen-bonding networks and are essential for anion antiport of SLC26A4 but not for motor (SLC26A5) and uncoupled anion transport (SLC26A9) functions; (iii) the hydrophobic interaction between each protomer's last transmembrane helices, TM14, is not of functional significance in SLC26A9 but crucial for the functions of SLC26A4 and SLC26A5, likely contributing to optimally orient the axis of the relative movements of the core domain with respect to the gate domains within the cell membrane. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the diverse physiological roles of the SLC26 family of proteins.
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Futamata H, Fukuda M, Umeda R, Yamashita K, Tomita A, Takahashi S, Shikakura T, Hayashi S, Kusakizako T, Nishizawa T, Homma K, Nureki O. Cryo-EM structures of thermostabilized prestin provide mechanistic insights underlying outer hair cell electromotility. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6208. [PMID: 36266333 PMCID: PMC9584906 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34017-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Outer hair cell elecromotility, driven by prestin, is essential for mammalian cochlear amplification. Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of thermostabilized prestin (PresTS), complexed with chloride, sulfate, or salicylate at 3.52-3.63 Å resolutions. The central positively-charged cavity allows flexible binding of various anion species, which likely accounts for the known distinct modulations of nonlinear capacitance (NLC) by different anions. Comparisons of these PresTS structures with recent prestin structures suggest rigid-body movement between the core and gate domains, and provide mechanistic insights into prestin inhibition by salicylate. Mutations at the dimeric interface severely diminished NLC, suggesting that stabilization of the gate domain facilitates core domain movement, thereby contributing to the expression of NLC. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying mammalian cochlear amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haon Futamata
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masahiro Fukuda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo; Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8503, Japan
| | - Rie Umeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Atsuhiro Tomita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Satoe Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Takafumi Shikakura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shigehiko Hayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Kusakizako
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nishizawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- The Hugh Knowles Center for Clinical and Basic Science in Hearing and Its Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60608, USA.
| | - Osamu Nureki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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Homma K, Takahashi S, Cheatham MA. How much prestin motor activity is required for normal hearing? Hear Res 2022; 423:108376. [PMID: 34848118 PMCID: PMC9091054 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prestin (SLC26A5) is a membrane-based voltage-dependent motor protein responsible for outer hair cell (OHC) somatic electromotility. Its importance for mammalian cochlear amplification has been demonstrated using mouse models lacking prestin (prestin-KO) and expressing dysfunctional prestin, prestinV499G/Y501H (499-prestin-KI). However, it is still not elucidated how prestin contributes to the mechanical amplification process in the cochlea. In this study, we characterized several prestin mouse models in which prestin activity in OHCs was variously manipulated. We found that near-normal cochlear function can be maintained even when prestin activity is significantly reduced, suggesting that the relationship between OHC electromotility and the peripheral sensitivity to sound may not be linear. This result is counterintuitive given the large threshold shifts in prestin-KO and 499-prestin-KI mice, as reported in previous studies. To reconcile these apparently opposing observations, we entertain a voltage- and turgor pressure-based cochlear amplification mechanism that requires prestin but is insensitive to significant reductions in prestin protein expression. This article is part of the Special Issue Outer hair cell Edited by Joseph Santos-Sacchi and Kumar Navaratnam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; The Hugh Knowles Center for Clinical and Basic Science in Hearing and Its Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
| | - Satoe Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mary Ann Cheatham
- The Hugh Knowles Center for Clinical and Basic Science in Hearing and Its Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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Murakoshi M, Koike Y, Koyama S, Usami S, Kamiya K, Ikeda K, Haga Y, Tsumoto K, Nakamura H, Hirasawa N, Ishihara K, Wada H. Effects of salicylate derivatives on localization of p.H723R allele product of SLC26A4. Auris Nasus Larynx 2022; 49:928-937. [PMID: 35305848 DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pendrin is a transmembrane protein encoded by the SLC26A4 gene that functions in maintaining ion concentrations in the endolymph of the inner ear, most likely by acting as a chloride/bicarbonate transporter. Variants in the SLC26A4 gene are responsible for sensorineural hearing loss. Although pendrin localizes to the plasma membrane, we previously identified that 8 missense allele products of SLC26A4 were retained in the intracellular region and lost their anion exchange function. We also found that 10 mM salicylate induced the translocation of 4 out of 8 allele products from the intracellular region to the plasma membrane and restored their anion exchanger activity. However, since 10 mM salicylate exhibits cytotoxicity, the use of chemical compounds with less cell toxicity is needed. In the present study, therefore, salicylate derivatives were used as the chemical compounds and their effects on the p.H723R allele products of SLC26A4 were investigated. METHODS HEK293 cells were transfected with the cDNA of p.H723R. Cell proliferation, viability and toxicity assays were performed to investigate the response and health of cells in culture after treatment with four types of salicylate derivatives, i.e., 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2'-hydroxyacetophenone and methyl salicylate. The effects of these salicylate derivatives on the localization of the p.H723R were investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. RESULTS The application of 10 mM salicylate showed an increase in cell toxicity and decrease in cell viability, leading to a significant decrease in cell proliferation. In contrast, the application of 1 mM salicylate derivatives did not show any significant increase in cell toxicity and decrease in cell viability, corresponding to a logarithmic increase in cell concentration with an increase in culture time. Immunofluorescence experiments showed that the p.H723R retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Among the salicylate derivatives applied, 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol induced the translocation of p.H723R from the ER to the plasma membrane 3 h after its application. CONCLUSION The results obtained showed that 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol restored the localization of the p.H723R allele products of SLC26A4 from the ER to the plasma membrane at a concentration of 1 mM by 3 h after its administration with less cytotoxicity than 10 mM salicylate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murakoshi
- Faculty of Frontier Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan; Division of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
| | - Yuhi Koike
- Division of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shin Koyama
- Kansokan-kyoto.com, Kyoto, Japan; Division of Creative Research and Development of Humanosphere, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinichi Usami
- Department of Hearing Implant Sciences, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Kazusaku Kamiya
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhisa Ikeda
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Haga
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kohei Tsumoto
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakamura
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Noriyasu Hirasawa
- Laboratory of Pharmacotherapy of Life-Style Related Diseases, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kenji Ishihara
- Laboratory of Medical Science, Course for School Nurse Teacher, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki University, Mito, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Wada
- Department of Intelligent Information System, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai, Japan
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Butan C, Song Q, Bai JP, Tan WJT, Navaratnam D, Santos-Sacchi J. Single particle cryo-EM structure of the outer hair cell motor protein prestin. Nat Commun 2022; 13:290. [PMID: 35022426 PMCID: PMC8755724 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Butan
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Qiang Song
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jun-Ping Bai
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Winston J T Tan
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dhasakumar Navaratnam
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Joseph Santos-Sacchi
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Progress in understanding the structural mechanism underlying prestin's electromotile activity. Hear Res 2021; 423:108423. [PMID: 34987017 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Farrell B, Skidmore BL, Rajasekharan V, Brownell WE. A novel theoretical framework reveals more than one voltage-sensing pathway in the lateral membrane of outer hair cells. J Gen Physiol 2021; 152:151746. [PMID: 32384538 PMCID: PMC7335013 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201912447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Farrell
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Benjamin L Skidmore
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Vivek Rajasekharan
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - William E Brownell
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Wang Z, Wang Q, Wu H, Huang Z. Identification and characterization of amphibian SLC26A5 using RNA-Seq. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:564. [PMID: 34294052 PMCID: PMC8296623 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07798-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prestin (SLC26A5) is responsible for acute sensitivity and frequency selectivity in the vertebrate auditory system. Limited knowledge of prestin is from experiments using site-directed mutagenesis or domain-swapping techniques after the amino acid residues were identified by comparing the sequence of prestin to those of its paralogs and orthologs. Frog prestin is the only representative in amphibian lineage and the studies of it were quite rare with only one species identified. Results Here we report a new coding sequence of SLC26A5 for a frog species, Rana catesbeiana (the American bullfrog). In our study, the SLC26A5 gene of Rana has been mapped, sequenced and cloned successively using RNA-Seq. We measured the nonlinear capacitance (NLC) of prestin both in the hair cells of Rana’s inner ear and HEK293T cells transfected with this new coding gene. HEK293T cells expressing Rana prestin showed electrophysiological features similar to that of hair cells from its inner ear. Comparative studies of zebrafish, chick, Rana and an ancient frog species showed that chick and zebrafish prestin lacked NLC. Ancient frog’s prestin was functionally different from Rana. Conclusions We mapped and sequenced the SLC26A5 of the Rana catesbeiana from its inner ear cDNA using RNA-Seq. The Rana SLC26A5 cDNA was 2292 bp long, encoding a polypeptide of 763 amino acid residues, with 40% identity to mammals. This new coding gene could encode a functionally active protein conferring NLC to both frog HCs and the mammalian cell line. While comparing to its orthologs, the amphibian prestin has been evolutionarily changing its function and becomes more advanced than avian and teleost prestin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongying Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Qixuan Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhiwu Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Heuer RA, Nella KT, Chang HT, Coots KS, Oleksijew AM, Roque CB, Silva LHA, McGuire TL, Homma K, Matsuoka AJ. Three-Dimensional Otic Neuronal Progenitor Spheroids Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Tissue Eng Part A 2020; 27:256-269. [PMID: 32580647 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2020.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-replacement therapies have been proposed as a potential tool to treat sensorineural hearing loss by aiding the regeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the inner ear. However, transplantation procedures have yet to be explored thoroughly to ensure proper cell differentiation and optimal transplant procedures. We hypothesized that the aggregation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived otic neuronal progenitor (ONP) cells into a multicellular form would improve their function and their survival in vivo post-transplantation. We generated hESC-derived ONP spheroids-an aggregate form conducive to differentiation, transplantation, and prolonged cell survival-to optimize conditions for their transplantation. Our findings indicate that these cell spheroids maintain the molecular and functional characteristics similar to those of ONP cells, which are upstream in the SGN lineage. Moreover, our phenotypical, electrophysiological, and mechanical data suggest an optimal spheroid transplantation point after 7 days of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture. We have also developed a feasible transplantation protocol for these spheroids using a micropipette aided by a digital microinjection system. In summary, the present work demonstrates that the transplantation of ONP cells in spheroid form into the inner ear through micropipette 7 days after seeding for 3D spheroid culture is an expedient and viable method for stem cell replacement therapies in the inner ear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Heuer
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kevin T Nella
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Hsiang-Tsun Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kyle S Coots
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew M Oleksijew
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Christian B Roque
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Luisa H A Silva
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tammy L McGuire
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Hugh Knowles Center for Hearing Research and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Akihiro J Matsuoka
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Hugh Knowles Center for Hearing Research and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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12
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An In Vitro Study on Prestin Analog Gene in the Bullfrog Hearing Organs. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:3570732. [PMID: 32714383 PMCID: PMC7352134 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3570732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The prestin-based active process in the mammalian outer hair cells (OHCs) is believed to play a crucial role in auditory signal amplification in the cochlea. Prestin belongs to an anion transporter family (SLC26A). It is densely expressed in the OHC lateral plasma membrane and functions as a voltage-dependent motor protein. Analog genes can be found in the genome of nonmammalian species, but their functions in hearing are poorly understood. In the present study, we used the gerbil prestin sequence as a template and identified an analog gene in the bullfrog genome. We expressed the gene in a stable cell line (HEK293T) and performed patch-clamp recording. We found that these cells exhibited prominent nonlinear capacitance (NLC), a widely accepted assay for prestin functioning as a motor protein. Upon close examination, the key parameters of this NLC are comparable to that conferred by the gerbil prestin, and nontransfected cells failed to display NLC. Lastly, we performed patch-clamp recording in HCs of all three hearing organs in bullfrog. HCs in both the sacculus and the amphibian papilla exhibited a capacitance profile that is similar to NLC while HCs in the basilar papilla showed no sign of NLC. Whether or not this NLC-like capacitance change is involved in auditory signal amplification certainly requires further examination; our results represent the first and necessary step in revealing possible roles of prestin in the active hearing processes found in many nonmammalian species.
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Wasano K, Takahashi S, Rosenberg SK, Kojima T, Mutai H, Matsunaga T, Ogawa K, Homma K. Systematic quantification of the anion transport function of pendrin (SLC26A4) and its disease-associated variants. Hum Mutat 2020; 41:316-331. [PMID: 31599023 PMCID: PMC6930342 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to the advent of rapid DNA sequencing technology and its prevalence, many disease-associated genetic variants are rapidly identified in many genes from patient samples. However, the subsequent effort to experimentally validate and define their pathological roles is extremely slow. Consequently, the pathogenicity of most disease-associated genetic variants is solely speculated in silico, which is no longer deemed compelling. We developed an experimental approach to efficiently quantify the pathogenic effects of disease-associated genetic variants with a focus on SLC26A4, which is essential for normal inner ear function. Alterations of this gene are associated with both syndromic and nonsyndromic hereditary hearing loss with various degrees of severity. We established HEK293T-based stable cell lines that express pendrin missense variants in a doxycycline-dependent manner, and systematically determined their anion transport activities with high accuracy in a 96-well plate format using a high throughput plate reader. Our doxycycline dosage-dependent transport assay objectively distinguishes missense variants that indeed impair the function of pendrin from those that do not (functional variants). We also found that some of these putative missense variants disrupt normal messenger RNA splicing. Our comprehensive experimental approach helps determine the pathogenicity of each pendrin variant, which should guide future efforts to benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Wasano
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Laboratory of Auditory Disorders, Division of Hearing and Balance Research, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
| | - Satoe Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Samuel K. Rosenberg
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Takashi Kojima
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hideki Mutai
- Laboratory of Auditory Disorders, Division of Hearing and Balance Research, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Matsunaga
- Laboratory of Auditory Disorders, Division of Hearing and Balance Research, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan
| | - Kaoru Ogawa
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- The Hugh Knowles Center for Clinical and Basic Science in Hearing and Its Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60608, USA
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Takahashi S, Yamashita T, Homma K, Zhou Y, Zuo J, Zheng J, Cheatham MA. Deletion of exons 17 and 18 in prestin's STAS domain results in loss of function. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6874. [PMID: 31053797 PMCID: PMC6499820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43343-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cochlear outer hair cells (OHC) express the motor protein, prestin, which is required for sensitivity and frequency selectivity. Because our previous work showed that a calmodulin binding site (CBS) was located in prestin's C-terminal, specifically within the intrinsically disordered region, we sought to delete the IDR to study the functional significance of calcium-dependent, calmodulin binding on OHC function. Although the construct lacking the IDR (∆IDR prestin) demonstrated wildtype-like nonlinear capacitance (NLC) in HEK293T cells, the phenotype in ∆IDR prestin knockins (KI) was similar to that in prestin knockouts: thresholds were elevated, NLC was absent and OHCs were missing from basal regions of the cochlea. Although ∆IDR prestin mRNA was measured, no prestin protein was detected. At the mRNA level, both of prestin's exons 17 and 18 were entirely removed, rather than the smaller region encoding the IDR. Our hybrid exon that contained the targeted deletion (17-18 ∆IDR) failed to splice in vitro and prestin protein lacking exons 17 and 18 aggregated and failed to target the cell membrane. Hence, the absence of prestin protein in ∆IDR KI OHCs may be due to the unexpected splicing of the hybrid 17-18 ∆IDR exon followed by rapid degradation of nonfunctional prestin protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoe Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tetsuji Yamashita
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kazuaki Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yingjie Zhou
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jing Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Mary Ann Cheatham
- Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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