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Jiang Q, Zou W, Li S, Qiu X, Zhu L, Kang L, Müller U. Sequence variations and accessory proteins adapt TMC functions to distinct sensory modalities. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00448-3. [PMID: 38986620 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.06.013] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins are expressed throughout the animal kingdom and are thought to encode components of ion channels. Mammals express eight TMCs (mTMC1-8), two of which (mTMC1 and mTMC2) are subunits of mechanotransduction channels. C. elegans expresses two TMCs (TMC-1 and TMC-2), which mediate mechanosensation, egg laying, and alkaline sensing. The mechanisms by which nematode TMCs contribute to such diverse physiological processes and their functional relationship to mammalian mTMCs is unclear. Here, we show that association with accessory proteins tunes nematode TMC-1 to divergent sensory functions. In addition, distinct TMC-1 domains enable touch and alkaline sensing. Strikingly, these domains are segregated in mammals between mTMC1 and mTMC3. Consistent with these findings, mammalian mTMC1 can mediate mechanosensation in nematodes, while mTMC3 can mediate alkaline sensation. We conclude that sequence diversification and association with accessory proteins has led to the emergence of TMC protein complexes with diverse properties and physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Jiang
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Wenjuan Zou
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shitian Li
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Xufeng Qiu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Linhui Zhu
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China.
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Holt JR, Fettiplace R, Müller U. Sensory transduction in auditory hair cells-PIEZOs can't touch this. J Gen Physiol 2024; 156:e202413585. [PMID: 38727631 PMCID: PMC11090049 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202413585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In this Viewpoint, Holt, Fettiplace, and Müller weigh the evidence supporting a role for PIEZO and TMC channels in mechanosensory transduction in inner ear hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R. Holt
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Fettiplace
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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3
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Clark S, Jeong H, Posert R, Goehring A, Gouaux E. The structure of the Caenorhabditis elegans TMC-2 complex suggests roles of lipid-mediated subunit contacts in mechanosensory transduction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314096121. [PMID: 38354260 PMCID: PMC10895266 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314096121] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is the process by which a mechanical force, such as touch, is converted into an electrical signal. Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins are an evolutionarily conserved family of membrane proteins whose function has been linked to a variety of mechanosensory processes, including hearing and balance sensation in vertebrates and locomotion in Drosophila. TMC1 and TMC2 are components of ion channel complexes, but the molecular features that tune these complexes to diverse mechanical stimuli are unknown. Caenorhabditis elegans express two TMC homologs, TMC-1 and TMC-2, both of which are the likely pore-forming subunits of mechanosensitive ion channels but differ in their expression pattern and functional role in the worm. Here, we present the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the native TMC-2 complex isolated from C. elegans. The complex is composed of two copies of the pore-forming TMC-2 subunit, the calcium and integrin binding protein CALM-1 and the transmembrane inner ear protein TMIE. Comparison of the TMC-2 complex to the recently published cryo-EM structure of the C. elegans TMC-1 complex highlights conserved protein-lipid interactions, as well as a π-helical structural motif in the pore-forming helices, that together suggest a mechanism for TMC-mediated mechanosensory transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Clark
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
| | - Hanbin Jeong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
| | - Rich Posert
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
| | - April Goehring
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
- HHMI, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
| | - Eric Gouaux
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
- HHMI, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR97239
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4
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Sun P, Smith E, Nicolson T. Transmembrane Channel-Like (Tmc) Subunits Contribute to Frequency Sensitivity in the Zebrafish Utricle. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1298232023. [PMID: 37952940 PMCID: PMC10851681 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1298-23.2023] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Information about dynamic head motion is conveyed by a central "striolar" zone of vestibular hair cells and afferent neurons in the inner ear. How vestibular hair cells are tuned to transduce dynamic stimuli at the molecular level is not well understood. Here we take advantage of the differential expression pattern of tmc1, tmc2a, and tmc2b, which encode channel subunits of the mechanotransduction complex in zebrafish vestibular hair cells. To test the role of various combinations of Tmc subunits in transducing dynamic head movements, we measured reflexive eye movements induced by high-frequency stimuli in single versus double tmc mutants. We found that Tmc2a function correlates with the broadest range of frequency sensitivity, whereas Tmc2b mainly contributes to lower-frequency responses. Tmc1, which is largely excluded from the striolar zone, plays a minor role in sensing lower-frequency stimuli. Our study suggests that the Tmc subunits impart functional differences to the mechanotransduction of dynamic stimuli.Significance Statement Information about dynamic head movements is transmitted by sensory receptors, known as hair cells, in the labyrinth of the inner ear. The sensitivity of hair cells to fast or slow movements of the head differs according to cell type. Whether the mechanotransduction complex that converts mechanical stimuli into electrical signals in hair cells participates in conveying frequency information is not clear. Here we find that the transmembrane channel-like 1/2 genes, which encode a central component of the complex, are differentially expressed in the utricle and contribute to frequency sensitivity in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304
| | - Eliot Smith
- Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304
| | - Teresa Nicolson
- Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304
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5
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Wang P, Miller KK, He E, Dhawan SS, Cunningham CL, Grillet N. LOXHD1 is indispensable for coupling auditory mechanosensitive channels to the site of force transmission. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3752492. [PMID: 38260480 PMCID: PMC10802736 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3752492/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Hearing is initiated in hair cells by the mechanical activation of ion channels in the hair bundle. The hair bundle is formed by stereocilia organized into rows of increasing heights interconnected by tip links, which convey sound-induced forces to stereocilia tips. The auditory mechanosensitive channels are complexes containing at least four protein-subunits - TMC1/2, TMIE, CIB2, and LHFPL51-16 - and are located at the tips of shorter stereocilia at a yet-undetermined distance from the lower tip link insertion point17. While multiple auditory channel subunits appear to interact with the tip link, it remains unknown whether their combined interaction alone can resist the high-frequency mechanical stimulations owing to sound. Here we show that an unanticipated additional element, LOXHD1, is indispensable for maintaining the TMC1 pore-forming channel subunits coupled to the tip link. We demonstrate that LOXHD1 is a unique element of the auditory mechanotransduction complex that selectively affects the localization of TMC1, but not its close developmental paralogue TMC2. Taking advantage of our novel immunogold scanning electron microscopy method for submembranous epitopes (SUB-immunogold-SEM), we demonstrate that TMC1 normally concentrates within 100-nm of the tip link insertion point. In LOXHD1's absence, TMC1 is instead mislocalized away from this force transmission site. Supporting this finding, we found that LOXHD1 interacts selectively in vitro with TMC1 but not with TMC2 while also binding to channel subunits CIB2 and LHFPL5 and tip-link protein PCDH15. SUB-immunogold-SEM additionally demonstrates that LOXHD1 and TMC1 are physically connected to the lower tip-link complex in situ. Our results show that the TMC1-driven mature channels require LOXHD1 to stay coupled to the tip link and remain functional, but the TMC2-driven developmental channels do not. As both tip links and TMC1 remain present in hair bundles lacking LOXHD1, it opens the possibility to reconnect them and restore hearing for this form of genetic deafness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katharine K. Miller
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Enqi He
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Siddhant S. Dhawan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christopher L. Cunningham
- Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Nicolas Grillet
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, 240 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Lead contact
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6
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Clark S, Mitra J, Elferich J, Goehring A, Ge J, Ha T, Gouaux E. Single molecule studies of the native hair cell mechanosensory transduction complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.11.571162. [PMID: 38168376 PMCID: PMC10760052 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.11.571162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Hearing and balance rely on the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal, a process known as mechanosensory transduction (MT). In vertebrates, this process is accomplished by an MT complex that is located in hair cells of the inner ear. While the past three decades of research have identified many subunits that are important for MT and revealed interactions between these subunits, the composition and organization of a functional complex remains unknown. The major challenge associated with studying the MT complex is its extremely low abundance in hair cells; current estimates of MT complex quantity range from 3-60 attomoles per cochlea or utricle, well below the detection limit of most biochemical assays that are used to characterize macromolecular complexes. Here we describe the optimization of two single molecule assays, single molecule pull-down (SiMPull) and single molecule array (SiMoA), to study the composition and quantity of native mouse MT complexes. We demonstrate that these assays are capable of detecting and quantifying low attomoles of the native MT subunits protocadherin-15 (PCDH15) and lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like protein 5 (LHFPL5). Our results illuminate the stoichiometry of PCDH15- and LHFPL5-containing complexes and establish SiMPull and SiMoA as productive methods for probing the abundance, composition, and arrangement of subunits in the native MT complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Clark
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Jaba Mitra
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
- Present address: Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Johannes Elferich
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Present address: UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - April Goehring
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Jingpeng Ge
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Present address: School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA
- Present address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Gouaux
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
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7
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Clark S, Jeong H, Posert R, Goehring A, Gouaux E. Structure of C. elegans TMC-2 complex suggests roles of lipid-mediated subunit contacts in mechanosensory transduction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553618. [PMID: 37645790 PMCID: PMC10462014 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is the process by which a mechanical force, such as touch, is converted into an electrical signal. Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins are an evolutionarily-conserved family of ion channels whose function has been linked to a variety of mechanosensory processes, including hearing and balance sensation in vertebrates and locomotion in Drosophila. The molecular features that tune homologous TMC ion channel complexes to diverse mechanical stimuli are unknown. Caenorhabditis elegans express two TMC homologs, TMC-1 and TMC-2, both of which are the likely pore-forming subunits of mechanosensitive ion channels but differ in their expression pattern and functional role in the worm. Here we present the single particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the native TMC-2 complex isolated from C. elegans. The complex is composed of two copies each of the pore-forming TMC-2 subunit, the calcium and integrin binding protein CALM-1 and the transmembrane inner ear protein TMIE. Comparison of the TMC-2 complex to the recently published cryo-EM structure of the C. elegans TMC-1 complex reveals differences in subunit composition and highlights conserved protein-lipid interactions, as well as other structural features, that together suggest a mechanism for TMC-mediated mechanosensory transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Clark
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Hanbin Jeong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Rich Posert
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - April Goehring
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Eric Gouaux
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
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8
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Erickson T, Biggers WP, Williams K, Butland SE, Venuto A. Regionalized Protein Localization Domains in the Zebrafish Hair Cell Kinocilium. J Dev Biol 2023; 11:28. [PMID: 37367482 DOI: 10.3390/jdb11020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory hair cells are the receptors for auditory, vestibular, and lateral line sensory organs in vertebrates. These cells are distinguished by "hair"-like projections from their apical surface collectively known as the hair bundle. Along with the staircase arrangement of the actin-filled stereocilia, the hair bundle features a single, non-motile, true cilium called the kinocilium. The kinocilium plays an important role in bundle development and the mechanics of sensory detection. To understand more about kinocilial development and structure, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of zebrafish hair cells to identify cilia-associated genes that have yet to be characterized in hair cells. In this study, we focused on three such genes-ankef1a, odf3l2a, and saxo2-because human or mouse orthologs are either associated with sensorineural hearing loss or are located near uncharacterized deafness loci. We made transgenic fish that express fluorescently tagged versions of their proteins, demonstrating their localization to the kinocilia of zebrafish hair cells. Furthermore, we found that Ankef1a, Odf3l2a, and Saxo2 exhibit distinct localization patterns along the length of the kinocilium and within the cell body. Lastly, we have reported a novel overexpression phenotype of Saxo2. Overall, these results suggest that the hair cell kinocilium in zebrafish is regionalized along its proximal-distal axis and set the groundwork to understand more about the roles of these kinocilial proteins in hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Erickson
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | | | - Kevin Williams
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Shyanne E Butland
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Alexandra Venuto
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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9
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Calcium signaling and genetic rare diseases: An auditory perspective. Cell Calcium 2023; 110:102702. [PMID: 36791536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102702] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Deafness is a highly heterogeneous disorder which stems, for 50%, from genetic origins. Sensory transduction relies mainly on sensory hair cells of the cochlea, in the inner ear. Calcium is key for the function of these cells and acts as a fundamental signal transduction. Its homeostasis depends on three factors: the calcium influx, through the mechanotransduction channel at the apical pole of the hair cell as well as the voltage-gated calcium channel at the base of the cells; the calcium buffering via Ca2+-binding proteins in the cytoplasm, but also in organelles such as mitochondria and the reticulum endoplasmic mitochondria-associated membranes with specialized proteins; and the calcium extrusion through the Ca-ATPase pump, located all over the plasma membrane. In addition, the synaptic transmission to the central nervous system is also controlled by calcium. Genetic studies of inherited deafness have tremendously helped understand the underlying molecular pathways of calcium signaling. In this review, we discuss these different factors in light of the associated genetic diseases (syndromic and non-syndromic deafness) and the causative genes.
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10
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Functional consequences of Genetics variant in TMC1 and TMC2 within a United Arab Emirates family with Pre-lingual hearing loss. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103520. [PMID: 36568409 PMCID: PMC9772550 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.103520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss (HL) is the most prevalent sensory disorder whose etiology comes from environmental and/or genetic factors. Approximately 60 % of HL cases are due to mutations in genes responsible for maintaining a normal hearing function. Despite the monogenic inheritance of hereditary hearing loss (HHL), its diagnosis is challenging as both clinical and genetic heterogeneity characterizes it. Through the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, the number of identified mutations responsible for HHL has increased exponentially during the last decade. Mutations in the TMC1 have been reported in several patients with nonsyndromic hereditary hearing loss (NSHHL), more precisely in cases with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. In this study, we conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis of a United Arabs Emirates (UAE) family with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL). This analysis revealed segregation of the TMC1 missense mutation c.596A > T (p.Asn199Ile) with the disease. Bioinformatics analysis supported the pathogenic effect of this mutation and predicted its impact at the proteomics level. Molecular docking analysis of TMC2WT, TMC2R123K, TMC2Q205R, and TMC2R123K + Q205R. Finally, protein docking results suggest a role for TMC2 variants in the phenotypic variability observed within the investigated family.
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Key Words
- ARNSHL, Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss
- GATK, Genome Analysis Toolkit
- GnomAD, Genome Aggregation Database
- HHL, Hereditary Hearing Loss
- HL, Hearing Loss
- NGS, Next Generation Sequencing
- NSHHL, Nonsyndromic Hereditary Hearing Loss
- Non-syndromic Hearing Loss
- PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Phenotypic variability
- Protein docking
- TMC1
- UAE, United Arabs Emirates
- WES, Whole-Exome Sequencing
- Whole-exome sequencing
- c.596A > T mutation
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11
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Qiu X, Müller U. Sensing sound: Cellular specializations and molecular force sensors. Neuron 2022; 110:3667-3687. [PMID: 36223766 PMCID: PMC9671866 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Organisms of all phyla express mechanosensitive ion channels with a wide range of physiological functions. In recent years, several classes of mechanically gated ion channels have been identified. Some of these ion channels are intrinsically mechanosensitive. Others depend on accessory proteins to regulate their response to mechanical force. The mechanotransduction machinery of cochlear hair cells provides a particularly striking example of a complex force-sensing machine. This molecular ensemble is embedded into a specialized cellular compartment that is crucial for its function. Notably, mechanotransduction channels of cochlear hair cells are not only critical for auditory perception. They also shape their cellular environment and regulate the development of auditory circuitry. Here, we summarize recent discoveries that have shed light on the composition of the mechanotransduction machinery of cochlear hair cells and how this machinery contributes to the development and function of the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Qiu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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12
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The conductance and organization of the TMC1-containing mechanotransducer channel complex in auditory hair cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2210849119. [PMID: 36191207 PMCID: PMC9564823 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210849119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the role of TMC1 as the central component of the hair cell mechanotransducer (MET) channel by characterizing transduction in mice harboring mutations in the pore region. All Tmc1 mutations reduced the Ca2+ influx into the hair bundle. Two mutations (Tmc1 p.D528N or Tmc1 p.E520Q) also decreased channel conductance and two (Tmc1 p. D569N or Tmc1 p.W554L) lowered expression. These mutations endorse TMC1 as the pore of the MET channel. The MET channel also contains accessory subunits, LHFPL5 and TMIE. MET currents were small in Lhfpl5 or Tmie knockout mice. Nevertheless, MET channels could still be activated by hair bundle displacement; single-channel conductance was unaffected in Lhfpl5−/− but reduced in Tmie−/−, suggesting TMIE likely contributes to the pore. Transmembrane channel-like protein 1 (TMC1) is thought to form the ion-conducting pore of the mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channel in auditory hair cells. Using single-channel analysis and ionic permeability measurements, we characterized six missense mutations in the purported pore region of mouse TMC1. All mutations reduced the Ca2+ permeability of the MET channel, triggering hair cell apoptosis and deafness. In addition, Tmc1 p.E520Q and Tmc1 p.D528N reduced channel conductance, whereas Tmc1 p.W554L and Tmc1 p.D569N lowered channel expression without affecting the conductance. Tmc1 p.M412K and Tmc1 p.T416K reduced only the Ca2+ permeability. The consequences of these mutations endorse TMC1 as the pore of the MET channel. The accessory subunits, LHFPL5 and TMIE, are thought to be involved in targeting TMC1 to the tips of the stereocilia. We found sufficient expression of TMC1 in outer hair cells of Lhfpl5 and Tmie knockout mice to determine the properties of the channels, which could still be gated by hair bundle displacement. Single-channel conductance was unaffected in Lhfpl5−/− but was reduced in Tmie−/−, implying TMIE very likely contributes to the pore. Both the working range and half-saturation point of the residual MET current in Lhfpl5−/− were substantially increased, suggesting that LHFPL5 is part of the mechanical coupling between the tip-link and the MET channel. Based on counts of numbers of stereocilia per bundle, we estimate that each PCDH15 and LHFPL5 monomer may contact two channels irrespective of location.
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13
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Qian F, Wei G, Gao Y, Wang X, Gong J, Guo C, Wang X, Zhang X, Zhao J, Wang C, Xu M, Hu Y, Yin G, Kang J, Chai R, Xie G, Liu D. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of zebrafish hair cells reveals novel genes potentially involved in hearing loss. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:385. [PMID: 35753015 PMCID: PMC11072488 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04410-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Hair cells play key roles in hearing and balance, and hair cell loss would result in hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction. Cellular and molecular research in hair cell biology provides us a better understanding of hearing and deafness. Zebrafish, owing to their hair cell-enriched organs, have been widely applied in hair cell-related research worldwide. Similar to mammals, zebrafish have inner ear hair cells. In addition, they also have lateral line neuromast hair cells. These different types of hair cells vary in morphology and function. However, systematic analysis of their molecular characteristics remains lacking. In this study, we analyzed the GFP+ cells isolated from Tg(Brn3c:mGFP) larvae with GFP expression in all hair cells using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). Three subtypes of hair cells, namely macula hair cell (MHC), crista hair cell (CHC), and neuromast hair cell (NHC), were characterized and validated by whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of marker genes. The hair cell scRNA-seq data revealed hair cell-specific genes, including hearing loss genes that have been identified in humans and novel genes potentially involved in hair cell formation and function. Two novel genes were discovered to specifically function in NHCs and MHCs, corresponding to their specific expression in NHCs and MHCs. This study allows us to understand the specific genes in hair cell subpopulations of zebrafish, which will shed light on the genetics of both human vestibular and cochlear hair cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuping Qian
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Guanyun Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Yajing Gao
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jie Gong
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Chao Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jinxiang Zhao
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Mengting Xu
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Yuebo Hu
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Guoli Yin
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jiahui Kang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100864, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Gangcai Xie
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
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14
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Rayat S, Farhadi M, Emamdjomeh H, Morovvati S, Falah M. Analysis of TMIE gene mutations including the first large deletion of exon 1 with autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:133. [PMID: 35710363 PMCID: PMC9204965 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01287-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transmembrane inner ear (TMIE) protein is an essential component of the mechanotransduction complex. In collaboration with other components, TMIE aids the maintenance and function of the sensory hair cells. Autosomal recessive deafness-6 (DFNB6) is caused by mutated TMIE, a gene in the high genetic heterogeneity spectrum of deafness. Hearing loss has a significant impact on the global economy and the quality of life of affected persons, their families, and society. Here, three unrelated families with TMIE variants are presented. All three cases were found while studying the genetic causes of an Iranian cohort of subjects with cochlear implants. Methods Whole exome sequencing was performed to find possible genetic etiology in probands of families after a comprehensive medical evaluation for hearing loss. Co-segregation analysis in probands and other family members was performed by Sanger sequencing. The variants were interpreted per the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Results Three different variants associated with TMIE were confirmed as reasons for autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness. The first novel ~ 10-kb deletion surrounding exon 1 of TMIE along with two previously reported variants co-segregated with families including a frameshift variant c.122_125dup (p.Pro43fs) and a missense variant c.250 C > T; p.(Arg84Trp) in exons 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusion This study increases the mutational spectrum of the TMIE gene and highlights the importance of the large deletion of this gene as a reason for hearing loss. Moreover, an efficient and simple multiplex PCR assay was developed to determine the exact breakpoints of the TMIE deletion. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01287-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Rayat
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farhadi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hessamaldin Emamdjomeh
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Morovvati
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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15
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Mechanotransduction in mammalian sensory hair cells. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 120:103706. [PMID: 35218890 PMCID: PMC9177625 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the inner ear, the auditory and vestibular systems detect and translate sensory information regarding sound and balance. The sensory cells that transform mechanical input into an electrical signal in these systems are called hair cells. A specialized organelle on the apical surface of the hair cells called the hair bundle detects the mechanical signals. Displacement of the hair bundle causes mechanotransduction channels to open. The morphology and organization of the hair bundle, as well as the properties and characteristics of the mechanotransduction process, differ between the different hair cell types in the auditory and vestibular systems. These differences likely contribute to maximizing the transduction of specific signals in each system. This review will discuss the molecules essential for mechanotransduction and the properties of the mechanotransduction process, focusing our attention on recent data and differences between the auditory and vestibular systems.
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16
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Multiplexed Genome Editing for Efficient Phenotypic Screening in Zebrafish. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020092. [PMID: 35202345 PMCID: PMC8879510 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are widely used to investigate candidate genes for human diseases. While the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized gene editing, the use of individual guide RNAs limits the efficiency and application of this technology in functional genetics research. Multiplexed genome editing significantly enhances the efficiency and scope of gene editing. Herein, we describe an efficient multiplexed genome editing strategy to generate zebrafish mutants. Following behavioural tests and histological examination, we identified one new candidate gene (tmem183a) for hearing loss. This study provides a robust genetic platform to quickly obtain zebrafish mutants and to identify candidate genes by phenotypic readouts.
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17
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Li J, Liu C, Kaefer S, Youssef M, Zhao B. The Mechanotransduction Channel and Organic Cation Transporter Are Critical for Cisplatin Ototoxicity in Murine Hair Cells. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:835448. [PMID: 35221917 PMCID: PMC8866953 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.835448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs across the world. However, the serious ototoxic effects, leading to permanent hair cell death and hearing loss, significantly limit the utility of cisplatin. In zebrafish, the functional mechanotransduction channel is required for cisplatin ototoxicity. However, it is still unclear the extent to which the mechanotransduction channel is involved in cisplatin uptake and ototoxicity in mammalian hair cells. Herein, we show that genetically disrupting mechanotransduction in mouse partially protects hair cells from cisplatin-induced hair cell death. Using a fluorescent-dye conjugated cisplatin, we monitored cisplatin uptake in cochlear explants and found that functional mechanotransduction is required for the uptake of cisplatin in murine hair cells. In addition, cimetidine, an inhibitor of the organic cation transporter, also partially protects hair cells from cisplatin ototoxicity. Notably, the otoprotective effects of cimetidine do not require mechanotransduction. These findings suggest that both the mechanotransduction channel and the organic cation transporter are critical for cisplatin ototoxicity in murine hair cells.
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18
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Jeong H, Clark S, Goehring A, Dehghani-Ghahnaviyeh S, Rasouli A, Tajkhorshid E, Gouaux E. Structures of the TMC-1 complex illuminate mechanosensory transduction. Nature 2022; 610:796-803. [PMID: 36224384 PMCID: PMC9605866 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05314-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The initial step in the sensory transduction pathway underpinning hearing and balance in mammals involves the conversion of force into the gating of a mechanosensory transduction channel1. Despite the profound socioeconomic impacts of hearing disorders and the fundamental biological significance of understanding mechanosensory transduction, the composition, structure and mechanism of the mechanosensory transduction complex have remained poorly characterized. Here we report the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the native transmembrane channel-like protein 1 (TMC-1) mechanosensory transduction complex isolated from Caenorhabditis elegans. The two-fold symmetric complex is composed of two copies each of the pore-forming TMC-1 subunit, the calcium-binding protein CALM-1 and the transmembrane inner ear protein TMIE. CALM-1 makes extensive contacts with the cytoplasmic face of the TMC-1 subunits, whereas the single-pass TMIE subunits reside on the periphery of the complex, poised like the handles of an accordion. A subset of complexes additionally includes a single arrestin-like protein, arrestin domain protein (ARRD-6), bound to a CALM-1 subunit. Single-particle reconstructions and molecular dynamics simulations show how the mechanosensory transduction complex deforms the membrane bilayer and suggest crucial roles for lipid-protein interactions in the mechanism by which mechanical force is transduced to ion channel gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbin Jeong
- grid.433851.80000 0004 0608 3919Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Sarah Clark
- grid.433851.80000 0004 0608 3919Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - April Goehring
- grid.433851.80000 0004 0608 3919Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA ,grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Sepehr Dehghani-Ghahnaviyeh
- grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA
| | - Ali Rasouli
- grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL USA
| | - Eric Gouaux
- grid.433851.80000 0004 0608 3919Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA ,grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
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19
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Holt JR, Tobin M, Elferich J, Gouaux E, Ballesteros A, Yan Z, Ahmed ZM, Nicolson T. Putting the Pieces Together: the Hair Cell Transduction Complex. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2021; 22:601-608. [PMID: 34617206 PMCID: PMC8599550 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-021-00808-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of the components of the mechanosensory transduction complex in hair cells has been a major research interest for many auditory and vestibular scientists and has attracted attention from outside the field. The past two decades have witnessed a number of significant advances with emergence of compelling evidence implicating at least a dozen distinct molecular components of the transduction machinery. Yet, how the pieces of this ensemble fit together and function in harmony to enable the senses of hearing and balance has not been clarified. The goal of this review is to summarize a 2021 symposium presented at the annual mid-winter meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology. The symposium brought together the latest insights from within and beyond the field to examine individual components of the transduction complex and how these elements interact at molecular, structural, and biophysical levels to gate mechanosensitive channels and initiate sensory transduction in the inner ear. The review includes a brief historical background to set the stage for topics to follow that focus on structure, properties, and interactions of proteins such as CDH23, PCDH15, LHFPL5, TMIE, TMC1/2, and CIB2/3. We aim to present the diversity of ideas in this field and highlight emerging theories and concepts. This review will not only provide readers with a deeper appreciation of the components of the transduction apparatus and how they function together, but also bring to light areas of broad agreement, areas of scientific controversy, and opportunities for future scientific discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Holt
- Departments of Otolaryngology & Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Mélanie Tobin
- Laboratoire Physico-Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR168, Paris, 75005, France
- Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Johannes Elferich
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Eric Gouaux
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Angela Ballesteros
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Neurological, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Yan
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Zubair M Ahmed
- Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Teresa Nicolson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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20
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Hu SQ, Xu HM, Qian F, Chen CS, Wang X, Liu D, Cheng L. Interferon regulatory factor-7 is required for hair cell development during zebrafish embryogenesis. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 82:88-97. [PMID: 34779143 PMCID: PMC9305156 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor‐7 (IRF7) is an essential regulator of both innate and adaptive immunity. It is also expressed in the otic vesicle of zebrafish embryos. However, any role for irf7 in hair cell development was uncharacterized. Does it work as a potential deaf gene to regulate hair cell development? We used whole‐mount in situ hybridization (WISH) assay and morpholino‐mediated gene knockdown method to investigate the role of irf7 in the development of otic vesicle hair cells during zebrafish embryogenesis. We performed RNA sequencing to gain a detailed insight into the molecules/genes which are altered upon downregulation of irf7. Compared to the wild‐type siblings, knockdown of irf7 resulted in severe developmental retardation in zebrafish embryos as well as loss of neuromasts and damage to hair cells at an early stage (within 3 days post fertilization). Coinjection of zebrafish irf7 mRNA could partially rescued the defects of the morphants. atp1b2b mRNA injection can also partially rescue the phenotype induced by irf7 gene deficiency. Loss of hair cells in irf7‐morphants does not result from cell apoptosis. Gene expression profiles show that, compared to wild‐type, knockdown of irf7 can lead to 2053 and 2678 genes being upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Among them, 18 genes were annotated to hair cell (HC) development or posterior lateral line (PLL) development. All results suggest that irf7 plays an essential role in hair cell development in zebrafish, indicating that irf7 may be a member of deafness gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Qun Hu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hui-Min Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fuping Qian
- School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Chang-Sheng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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21
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Lee J, Kawai K, Holt JR, Géléoc GSG. Sensory transduction is required for normal development and maturation of cochlear inner hair cell synapses. eLife 2021; 10:e69433. [PMID: 34734805 PMCID: PMC8598158 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acoustic overexposure and aging can damage auditory synapses in the inner ear by a process known as synaptopathy. These insults may also damage hair bundles and the sensory transduction apparatus in auditory hair cells. However, a connection between sensory transduction and synaptopathy has not been established. To evaluate potential contributions of sensory transduction to synapse formation and development, we assessed inner hair cell synapses in several genetic models of dysfunctional sensory transduction, including mice lacking transmembrane channel-like (Tmc) 1, Tmc2, or both, in Beethoven mice which carry a dominant Tmc1 mutation and in Spinner mice which carry a recessive mutation in transmembrane inner ear (Tmie). Our analyses reveal loss of synapses in the absence of sensory transduction and preservation of synapses in Tmc1-null mice following restoration of sensory transduction via Tmc1 gene therapy. These results provide insight into the requirement of sensory transduction for hair cell synapse development and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Lee
- Speech and Hearing Bioscience & Technology Program, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard UniversityBostonUnited States
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Kosuke Kawai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Jeffrey R Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Gwenaëlle SG Géléoc
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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22
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The Formin Fmn2b Is Required for the Development of an Excitatory Interneuron Module in the Zebrafish Acoustic Startle Circuit. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0329-20.2021. [PMID: 34193512 PMCID: PMC8272403 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0329-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The formin family member Fmn2 is a neuronally enriched cytoskeletal remodeling protein conserved across vertebrates. Recent studies have implicated Fmn2 in neurodevelopmental disorders, including sensory processing dysfunction and intellectual disability in humans. Cellular characterization of Fmn2 in primary neuronal cultures has identified its function in the regulation of cell-substrate adhesion and consequently growth cone translocation. However, the role of Fmn2 in the development of neural circuits in vivo, and its impact on associated behaviors have not been tested. Using automated analysis of behavior and systematic investigation of the associated circuitry, we uncover the role of Fmn2b in zebrafish neural circuit development. As reported in other vertebrates, the zebrafish ortholog of Fmn2 is also enriched in the developing zebrafish nervous system. We find that Fmn2b is required for the development of an excitatory interneuron pathway, the spiral fiber neuron, which is an essential circuit component in the regulation of the Mauthner cell (M-cell)-mediated acoustic startle response. Consistent with the loss of the spiral fiber neurons tracts, high-speed video recording revealed a reduction in the short latency escape events while responsiveness to the stimuli was unaffected. Taken together, this study provides evidence for a circuit-specific requirement of Fmn2b in eliciting an essential behavior in zebrafish. Our findings underscore the importance of Fmn2 in neural development across vertebrate lineages and highlight zebrafish models in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
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23
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Sheets L, Holmgren M, Kindt KS. How Zebrafish Can Drive the Future of Genetic-based Hearing and Balance Research. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2021; 22:215-235. [PMID: 33909162 PMCID: PMC8110678 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-021-00798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last several decades, studies in humans and animal models have successfully identified numerous molecules required for hearing and balance. Many of these studies relied on unbiased forward genetic screens based on behavior or morphology to identify these molecules. Alongside forward genetic screens, reverse genetics has further driven the exploration of candidate molecules. This review provides an overview of the genetic studies that have established zebrafish as a genetic model for hearing and balance research. Further, we discuss how the unique advantages of zebrafish can be leveraged in future genetic studies. We explore strategies to design novel forward genetic screens based on morphological alterations using transgenic lines or behavioral changes following mechanical or acoustic damage. We also outline how recent advances in CRISPR-Cas9 can be applied to perform reverse genetic screens to validate large sequencing datasets. Overall, this review describes how future genetic studies in zebrafish can continue to advance our understanding of inherited and acquired hearing and balance disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Sheets
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Melanie Holmgren
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Katie S Kindt
- Section On Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institutes On Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
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Nicolson T. Navigating Hereditary Hearing Loss: Pathology of the Inner Ear. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:660812. [PMID: 34093131 PMCID: PMC8172992 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.660812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited forms of deafness account for a sizable portion of hearing loss among children and adult populations. Many patients with sensorineural deficits have pathological manifestations in the peripheral auditory system, the inner ear. Within the hearing organ, the cochlea, most of the genetic forms of hearing loss involve defects in sensory detection and to some extent, signaling to the brain via the auditory cranial nerve. This review focuses on peripheral forms of hereditary hearing loss and how these impairments can be studied in diverse animal models or patient-derived cells with the ultimate goal of using the knowledge gained to understand the underlying biology and treat hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Nicolson
- Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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25
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Farhadi M, Razmara E, Balali M, Hajabbas Farshchi Y, Falah M. How Transmembrane Inner Ear (TMIE) plays role in the auditory system: A mystery to us. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:5869-5883. [PMID: 33987950 PMCID: PMC8256367 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Different cellular mechanisms contribute to the hearing sense, so it is obvious that any disruption in such processes leads to hearing impairment that greatly influences the global economy and quality of life of the patients and their relatives. In the past two decades, transmembrane inner ear (TMIE) protein has received a great deal of research interest because its impairments cause hereditary deafness in humans. This evolutionarily conserved membrane protein contributes to a fundamental complex that plays role in the maintenance and function of the sensory hair cells. Although the critical roles of the TMIE in mechanoelectrical transduction or hearing procedures have been discussed, there are little to no review papers summarizing the roles of the TMIE in the auditory system. In order to fill this gap, herein, we discuss the important roles of this protein in the auditory system including its role in mechanotransduction, olivocochlear synapse, morphology and different signalling pathways; we also review the genotype-phenotype correlation that can per se show the possible roles of this protein in the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Farhadi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and DepartmentThe Five Senses Health InstituteHazrat Rasoul Akram HospitalIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Ehsan Razmara
- Australian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
| | - Maryam Balali
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and DepartmentThe Five Senses Health InstituteHazrat Rasoul Akram HospitalIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Yeganeh Hajabbas Farshchi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular BiologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and DepartmentThe Five Senses Health InstituteHazrat Rasoul Akram HospitalIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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26
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New Tmc1 Deafness Mutations Impact Mechanotransduction in Auditory Hair Cells. J Neurosci 2021; 41:4378-4391. [PMID: 33824189 PMCID: PMC8152607 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2537-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmembrane channel-like protein isoform 1 (TMC1) is a major component of the mechano-electrical transducer (MET) channel in cochlear hair cells and is subject to numerous mutations causing deafness. We report a new dominant human deafness mutation, TMC1 p.T422K, and have characterized the homologous mouse mutant, Tmc1 p.T416K, which caused deafness and outer hair cell (OHC) loss by the fourth postnatal week. MET channels showed decreased Ca2+ permeability and resting open probability, but no change in single-channel conductance or expression. Three adjacent deafness mutations are TMC1 p.L416R, p.G417R, and p.M418K, the last homologous to the mouse Beethoven that exhibits similar channel effects. All substitute a positive for a neutral residue, which could produce charge screening in the channel pore or influence binding of an accessory subunit. Channel properties were compared in mice of both sexes between dominant (Tmc1 p.T416K, Tmc1 p.D569N) and recessive (Tmc1 p.W554L, Tmc1 p.D528N) mutations of residues near the putative pore of the channel. Tmc1 p.W554L and p.D569N exhibit reduced maximum current with no effect on single-channel conductance, implying a smaller number of channels transported to the stereociliary tips; this may stem from impaired TMC1 binding to LHFPL5. Tmc1 p.D528N, located in the pore's narrowest region, uniquely caused large reductions in MET channel conductance and block by dihydrostreptomycin (DHS). For Tmc1 p.T416K and Tmc1 p.D528N, transduction loss occurred between P15 and P20. We propose two mechanisms linking channel mutations and deafness: decreased Ca2+ permeability, common to all mutants, and decreased resting open probability in low Ca2+, confined to dominant mutations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Transmembrane channel-like protein isoform 1 (TMC1) is thought to be a major component of the mechanotransducer channel in auditory hair cells, but the protein organization and channel structure are still uncertain. We made four mouse lines harboring Tmc1 point mutations that alter channel properties, causing hair cell degeneration and deafness. These include a mouse homolog of a new human deafness mutation pT416K that decreased channel Ca2+ permeability by introducing a positively-charged amino acid in the putative pore. All mutations are consistent with the channel structure predicted from modeling, but only one, p.D528N near the external face of the pore, substantially reduced channel conductance and Ca2+ permeability and virtually abolished block by dihydrostreptomycin (DHS), strongly endorsing its siting within the pore.
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27
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Zhu S, Chen Z, Wang H, McDermott BM. Tmc Reliance Is Biased by the Hair Cell Subtype and Position Within the Ear. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:570486. [PMID: 33490059 PMCID: PMC7817542 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.570486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cells are heterogenous, enabling varied roles in sensory systems. An emerging hypothesis is that the transmembrane channel-like (Tmc) proteins of the hair cell’s mechanotransduction apparatus vary within and between organs to permit encoding of different mechanical stimuli. Five anatomical variables that may coincide with different Tmc use by a hair cell within the ear are the containing organ, cell morphology, cell position within an organ, axis of best sensitivity for the cell, and the hair bundle’s orientation within this axis. Here, we test this hypothesis in the organs of the zebrafish ear using a suite of genetic mutations. Transgenesis and quantitative measurements demonstrate two morphologically distinct hair cell types in the central thickness of a vestibular organ, the lateral crista: short and tall. In contrast to what has been observed, we find that tall hair cells that lack Tmc1 generally have substantial reductions in mechanosensitivity. In short hair cells that lack Tmc2 isoforms, mechanotransduction is largely abated. However, hair cell Tmc dependencies are not absolute, and an exceptional class of short hair cell that depends on Tmc1 is present, termed a short hair cell erratic. To further test anatomical variables that may influence Tmc use, we map Tmc1 function in the saccule of mutant larvae that depend just on this Tmc protein to hear. We demonstrate that hair cells that use Tmc1 are found in the posterior region of the saccule, within a single axis of best sensitivity, and hair bundles with opposite orientations retain function. Overall, we determine that Tmc reliance in the ear is dependent on the organ, subtype of hair cell, position within the ear, and axis of best sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyuan Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Zongwei Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Haoming Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Brian M McDermott
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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28
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Li S, Yan Z. Mechanotransduction Ion Channels in Hearing and Touch. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1349:371-385. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-4254-8_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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29
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Abstract
Sound-induced mechanical stimuli are detected by elaborate mechanosensory transduction (MT) machinery in highly specialized hair cells of the inner ear. Genetic studies of inherited deafness in the past decades have uncovered several molecular constituents of the MT complex, and intense debate has surrounded the molecular identity of the pore-forming subunits. How the MT components function in concert in response to physical stimulation is not fully understood. In this review, we summarize and discuss multiple lines of evidence supporting the hypothesis that transmembrane channel-like 1 is a long-sought MT channel subunit. We also review specific roles of other components of the MT complex, including protocadherin 15, cadherin 23, lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 5, transmembrane inner ear, calcium and integrin-binding family member 2, and ankyrins. Based on these recent advances, we propose a unifying theory of hair cell MT that may reconcile most of the functional discoveries obtained to date. Finally, we discuss key questions that need to be addressed for a comprehensive understanding of hair cell MT at molecular and atomic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zheng
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
| | - Jeffrey R Holt
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
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30
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Cunningham CL, Qiu X, Wu Z, Zhao B, Peng G, Kim YH, Lauer A, Müller U. TMIE Defines Pore and Gating Properties of the Mechanotransduction Channel of Mammalian Cochlear Hair Cells. Neuron 2020; 107:126-143.e8. [PMID: 32343945 PMCID: PMC7351599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
TMC1 and TMC2 (TMC1/2) have been proposed to form the pore of the mechanotransduction channel of cochlear hair cells. Here, we show that TMC1/2 cannot form mechanotransduction channels in cochlear hair cells without TMIE. TMIE binds to TMC1/2, and a TMIE mutation that perturbs TMC1/2 binding abolishes mechanotransduction. N-terminal TMIE deletions affect the response of the mechanotransduction channel to mechanical force. Similar to mechanically gated TREK channels, the C-terminal cytoplasmic TMIE domain contains charged amino acids that mediate binding to phospholipids, including PIP2. TMIE point mutations in the C terminus that are linked to deafness disrupt phospholipid binding, sensitize the channel to PIP2 depletion from hair cells, and alter the channel's unitary conductance and ion selectivity. We conclude that TMIE is a subunit of the cochlear mechanotransduction channel and that channel function is regulated by a phospholipid-sensing domain in TMIE with similarity to those in other mechanically gated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Cunningham
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xufeng Qiu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zizhen Wu
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Bo Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Guihong Peng
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ye-Hyun Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology - HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amanda Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology - HNS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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31
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Disruption of tmc1/2a/2b Genes in Zebrafish Reveals Subunit Requirements in Subtypes of Inner Ear Hair Cells. J Neurosci 2020; 40:4457-4468. [PMID: 32371604 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0163-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Detection of sound and head movement requires mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channels at tips of hair-cell stereocilia. In vertebrates, the transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins TMC1 and TMC2 fulfill critical roles in MET, and substantial evidence implicates these TMCs as subunits of the MET channel. To identify developmental and functional roles of this Tmc subfamily in the zebrafish inner ear, we tested the effects of truncating mutations in tmc1, tmc2a, and tmc2b on in vivo mechanosensation at the onset of hearing and balance, before gender differentiation. We find that tmc1/2a/2b triple-mutant larvae cannot detect sound or orient with respect to gravity. They lack acoustic-evoked behavioral responses, vestibular-induced eye movements, and hair-cell activity as assessed with FM dye labeling and microphonic potentials. Despite complete loss of hair-cell function, tmc triple-mutant larvae retain normal gross morphology of hair bundles and proper trafficking of known MET components Protocadherin 15a (Pcdh15a), Lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 5 (Lhfpl5), and Transmembrane inner ear protein (Tmie). Transgenic, hair cell-specific expression of Tmc2b-mEGFP rescues the behavioral and physiological deficits in tmc triple mutants. Results from tmc single and double mutants evince a principle role for Tmc2a and Tmc2b in hearing and balance, respectively, whereas Tmc1 has lower overall impact. Our experiments reveal that, in developing cristae, hair cells stratify into an upper, Tmc2a-dependent layer of teardrop-shaped cells and a lower, Tmc1/2b-dependent tier of gourd-shaped cells. Collectively, our genetic evidence indicates that auditory/vestibular end organs and subsets of hair cells therein rely on distinct combinations of Tmc1/2a/2b.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We assessed the effects of tmc1/2a/2b truncation mutations on mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) in the inner-ear hair cells of larval zebrafish. tmc triple mutants lacked behavioral responses to sound and head movements, while further assays demonstrated no observable mechanosensitivity in the tmc1/2a/2b triple mutant inner ear. Examination of tmc double mutants revealed major contributions from Tmc2a and Tmc2b to macular function; however, Tmc1 had less overall impact. FM labeling of lateral cristae in tmc double mutants revealed the presence of two distinct cell types, an upper layer of teardrop-shaped cells that rely on Tmc2a, and a lower layer of gourd-shaped cells that rely on Tmc1/2b.
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32
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Jin P, Jan LY, Jan YN. Mechanosensitive Ion Channels: Structural Features Relevant to Mechanotransduction Mechanisms. Annu Rev Neurosci 2020; 43:207-229. [PMID: 32084327 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-070918-050509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Activation of mechanosensitive ion channels underlies a variety of fundamental physiological processes that require sensation of mechanical force. Different mechanosensitive channels adapt distinctive structures and mechanotransduction mechanisms to fit their biological roles. How mechanosensitive channels work, especially in animals, has been extensively studied in the past decade. Here we review key findings in the functional and structural characterizations of these channels and highlight the structural features relevant to the mechanotransduction mechanism of each specific channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA;
| | - Lily Yeh Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA; .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Yuh-Nung Jan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA; .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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33
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A Screen for Gene Paralogies Delineating Evolutionary Branching Order of Early Metazoa. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:811-826. [PMID: 31879283 PMCID: PMC7003098 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary diversification of animals is one of Earth’s greatest marvels, yet its earliest steps are shrouded in mystery. Animals, the monophyletic clade known as Metazoa, evolved wildly divergent multicellular life strategies featuring ciliated sensory epithelia. In many lineages epithelial sensoria became coupled to increasingly complex nervous systems. Currently, different phylogenetic analyses of single-copy genes support mutually-exclusive possibilities that either Porifera or Ctenophora is sister to all other animals. Resolving this dilemma would advance the ecological and evolutionary understanding of the first animals and the evolution of nervous systems. Here we describe a comparative phylogenetic approach based on gene duplications. We computationally identify and analyze gene families with early metazoan duplications using an approach that mitigates apparent gene loss resulting from the miscalling of paralogs. In the transmembrane channel-like (TMC) family of mechano-transducing channels, we find ancient duplications that define separate clades for Eumetazoa (Placozoa + Cnidaria + Bilateria) vs. Ctenophora, and one duplication that is shared only by Eumetazoa and Porifera. In the Max-like protein X (MLX and MLXIP) family of bHLH-ZIP regulators of metabolism, we find that all major lineages from Eumetazoa and Porifera (sponges) share a duplicated gene pair that is sister to the single-copy gene maintained in Ctenophora. These results suggest a new avenue for deducing deep phylogeny by choosing rather than avoiding ancient gene paralogies.
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34
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Erickson T, Pacentine IV, Venuto A, Clemens R, Nicolson T. The lhfpl5 Ohnologs lhfpl5a and lhfpl5b Are Required for Mechanotransduction in Distinct Populations of Sensory Hair Cells in Zebrafish. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 12:320. [PMID: 32009898 PMCID: PMC6974483 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair cells sense and transmit auditory, vestibular, and hydrodynamic information by converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. This process of mechano-electrical transduction (MET) requires a mechanically gated channel localized in the apical stereocilia of hair cells. In mice, lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 5 (LHFPL5) acts as an auxiliary subunit of the MET channel whose primary role is to correctly localize PCDH15 and TMC1 to the mechanotransduction complex. Zebrafish have two lhfpl5 genes (lhfpl5a and lhfpl5b), but their individual contributions to MET channel assembly and function have not been analyzed. Here we show that the zebrafish lhfpl5 genes are expressed in discrete populations of hair cells: lhfpl5a expression is restricted to auditory and vestibular hair cells in the inner ear, while lhfpl5b expression is specific to hair cells of the lateral line organ. Consequently, lhfpl5a mutants exhibit defects in auditory and vestibular function, while disruption of lhfpl5b affects hair cells only in the lateral line neuromasts. In contrast to previous reports in mice, localization of Tmc1 does not depend upon Lhfpl5 function in either the inner ear or lateral line organ. In both lhfpl5a and lhfpl5b mutants, GFP-tagged Tmc1 and Tmc2b proteins still localize to the stereocilia of hair cells. Using a stably integrated GFP-Lhfpl5a transgene, we show that the tip link cadherins Pcdh15a and Cdh23, along with the Myo7aa motor protein, are required for correct Lhfpl5a localization at the tips of stereocilia. Our work corroborates the evolutionarily conserved co-dependence between Lhfpl5 and Pcdh15, but also reveals novel requirements for Cdh23 and Myo7aa to correctly localize Lhfpl5a. In addition, our data suggest that targeting of Tmc1 and Tmc2b proteins to stereocilia in zebrafish hair cells occurs independently of Lhfpl5 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Erickson
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.,Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Itallia V Pacentine
- Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Alexandra Venuto
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Rachel Clemens
- Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Teresa Nicolson
- Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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35
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Mechanotransduction-Dependent Control of Stereocilia Dimensions and Row Identity in Inner Hair Cells. Curr Biol 2020; 30:442-454.e7. [PMID: 31902726 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Actin-rich structures, like stereocilia and microvilli, are assembled with precise control of length, diameter, and relative spacing. By quantifying actin-core dimensions of stereocilia from phalloidin-labeled mouse cochleas, we demonstrated that inner hair cell stereocilia developed in specific stages, where a widening phase is sandwiched between two lengthening phases. Moreover, widening of the second-tallest stereocilia rank (row 2) occurred simultaneously with the appearance of mechanotransduction. Correspondingly, Tmc1KO/KO;Tmc2KO/KO or TmieKO/KO hair cells, which lack transduction, have significantly altered stereocilia lengths and diameters, including a narrowed row 2. EPS8 and the short splice isoform of MYO15A, identity markers for mature row 1 (the tallest row), lost their row exclusivity in transduction mutants. GNAI3, another member of the mature row 1 complex, accumulated at mutant row 1 tips at considerably lower levels than in wild-type bundles. Alterations in stereocilia dimensions and in EPS8 distribution seen in transduction mutants were mimicked by block of transduction channels of cochlear explants in culture. In addition, proteins normally concentrated at mature row 2 tips were also distributed differently in transduction mutants; the heterodimeric capping protein subunit CAPZB and its partner TWF2 never concentrated at row 2 tips like they do in wild-type bundles. The altered distribution of marker proteins in transduction mutants was accompanied by increased variability in stereocilia length. Transduction channels thus specify and maintain row identity, control addition of new actin filaments to increase stereocilia diameter, and coordinate stereocilia height within rows.
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36
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Yue X, Sheng Y, Kang L, Xiao R. Distinct functions of TMC channels: a comparative overview. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:4221-4232. [PMID: 31584127 PMCID: PMC11105308 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In the past two decades, transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins have attracted a significant amount of research interest, because mutations of Tmc1 lead to hereditary deafness. As evolutionarily conserved membrane proteins, TMC proteins are widely involved in diverse sensorimotor functions of many species, such as hearing, chemosensation, egg laying, and food texture detection. Interestingly, recent structural and physiological studies suggest that TMC channels may share a similar membrane topology with the Ca2+-activated Cl- channel TMEM16 and the mechanically activated OSCA1.2/TMEM63 channel. Namely, these channels form dimers and each subunit consists of ten transmembrane segments. Despite this important structural insight, a key question remains: what is the gating mechanism of TMC channels? The major technical hurdle to answer this question is that the reconstitution of TMC proteins as functional ion channels has been challenging in mammalian heterologous systems. Since TMC channels are conserved across taxa, genetic studies of TMC channels in model organisms such as C. elegans, Drosophila, and zebrafish may provide us critical information on the physiological function and regulation of TMCs. Here, we present a comparative overview on the diverse functions of TMC channels in different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Yue
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Sheng
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Rui Xiao
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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37
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A Tmc1 mutation reduces calcium permeability and expression of mechanoelectrical transduction channels in cochlear hair cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:20743-20749. [PMID: 31548403 PMCID: PMC6789967 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908058116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cochlear hair cells transduce sound into electrical signals by activation of mechanically sensitive ion channels thought to be formed by TMC1. We generated a single aspartate/asparagine substitution in mouse TMC1 which is homologous to a human genetic deafness mutation. The main consequence was reduction in the Ca2+ permeability of the mechanically sensitive channel with little change in its unitary conductance. Nevertheless, there was a much reduced expression of the ion channel, which led within 4 wk to death of the outer hair cells culminating in deafness. The mouse mutant accounts for the human deafness and implies that TMC1, in addition to forming the mechanically sensitive ion channel, regulates its own expression. Mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) currents were recorded from cochlear hair cells in mice with mutations of transmembrane channel-like protein TMC1 to study the effects on MET channel properties. We characterized a Tmc1 mouse with a single-amino-acid mutation (D569N), homologous to a dominant human deafness mutation. Measurements were made in both Tmc2 wild-type and Tmc2 knockout mice. By 30 d, Tmc1 pD569N heterozygote mice were profoundly deaf, and there was substantial loss of outer hair cells (OHCs). MET current in OHCs of Tmc1 pD569N mutants developed over the first neonatal week to attain a maximum amplitude one-third the size of that in Tmc1 wild-type mice, similar at apex and base, and lacking the tonotopic size gradient seen in wild type. The MET-channel Ca2+ permeability was reduced 3-fold in Tmc1 pD569N homozygotes, intermediate deficits being seen in heterozygotes. Reduced Ca2+ permeability resembled that of the Tmc1 pM412K Beethoven mutant, a previously studied semidominant mouse mutation. The MET channel unitary conductance, assayed by single-channel recordings and by measurements of current noise, was unaffected in mutant apical OHCs. We show that, in contrast to the Tmc1 M412K mutant, there was reduced expression of the TMC1 D569N channel at the transduction site assessed by immunolabeling, despite the persistence of tip links. The reduction in MET channel Ca2+ permeability seen in both mutants may be the proximate cause of hair-cell apoptosis, but changes in bundle shape and protein expression in Tmc1 D569N suggest another role for TMC1 apart from forming the channel.
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